Process for preparing acetonitrile

A process for preparing acetonitrile by contacting hydrogen and at least one of methylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine molar ratio of hydrogen to amine of at least 0.5 to 1 at an elevated temperature of at least about 300.degree. C and sufficiently high to induce reaction with a catalytically effective amount of catalyst comprising a transition metal in a reduced valence state which renders it effective toward synthesis of acetonitrile, at a space velocity of about 50 to about 2000 reciprocal hours, and recovering acetonitrile.