The Zn-mediated environmentally friendly and low-cost preparation of propiolonitriles using electrophilic cyanation of alkynyl bromides with N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS) has been achieved here. In this new protocol, only low-toxicity, stable and easy-to-handle cyanating reagents, NCTS and inexpensive zinc dust were needed. (Image credit: Xiao Yun Chen.)