This review is devoted to the chemistry of fluoroalkyl cyanides (R F -nitriles): their synthesis and chemical properties. Syntheses of non-functionalized R F -nitriles (FCH 2 CN, F 2 CHCN, CF 3 CN, C 2 F 5 CN, FCH 2 CH 2 CN, etc.) and dinitriles (NCCHFCN, NCCF 2 CN, NCCF 2 CF 2 CN, etc.) are considered. The synthesis of functionalized R F -nitriles such as F 2 NCF 2 CN, F 2 NCClFCN, Cl 2 CFCN, Br 2 CFCN, (O 2 N) 2 CFCN, O 2 NCF 2 CH 2 CH 2 CN, and dinitriles, such as O(CF 2 CN) 2 , NCCF 2 N=NCF 2 CN, is also considered. R F -Nitriles are attractive electrophilic, enophilic, and dienophilic building-blocks: they were used in the synthesis of various fluorine-containing heterocyclic compounds, such as R F -bearing pyridines, 1,3,5-triazines, tetrazoles, and others. R F -nitriles were also used in the synthesis of unusual acyclic compounds, such as fluoroalkylated N,N-difluoroamines, F 2 NCF 2 CF 2 N=SF 2 , R Fimino esters, and others.