Process for the preparation of 4-haloalkylnicotinonitriles

4-Haloalkylnicotinonitriles having the formula (I) which are suitable as intermediates in the preparation of pesticides, are obtained by: (a) reacting a 3-amino-1-haloalkyl-2-propen-1-one R F —C(O)—CH═CH—NH 2   (II) in a condensation reaction with a compound of the formula (III) to (VII), (R 1 Z)CH═CH—CN  (III) (R 1 Z) 2 CH—CH 2 —CN  (IV) Hal-CH═CH—CN  (V) Hal 2 CH—CH 2 CN  (VI) HC≡C—CN  (VII), to give a compound of the formula (VIII), (IX) and/or (X), R F —C(O)—CH═CH—NH—CH═CH—CN  (VIII) R F —C(O)—CH═CH—NH—CH(ZR 1 )—CH 2 —CN  (IX) R F —C(O)—CH═CH—NH—CH(Hal)—CH 2 —CN  (X), wherein R F is (C 1 -C 4 )-haloalkyl, R 1 is alkyl, Hal is Cl or Br and each Z, independently, is O, S, NR 1 or OCO; and (b) subjecting the reaction product to a ring closure reaction.