Cyanoethyl chitosan derivatives with various substitution degrees have been synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of acrylonitrile to the functional groups of chitosan. The process proceeds under homogeneous conditions without any catalyst at various pH values and reagent concentrations in the temperature range of 273–333 K. The formation of cyanoethyl chitosans is established by a gain in the weight of chitosan, a change in its content of nitrogen, and the appearance of an absorption band at 2250 cm−1 in the IR spectrum which corresponds to the stretching vibrations of a-C≡N group. It has been shown that the most efficient addition of acrylonitrile occurs at 273 K and pH 5.5. Cyanoethyl chitosan samples show better mechanical parameters and are characterized by a lower ordering than the parent chitosan.