A highly expedient protocol for a catalytic Appel-type dehydration of amides to nitriles has been developed that employs oxalyl chloride and triethylamine along with triphenylphosphine oxide as a catalyst. The reactions are usually complete in less than 10 min with only a 1 mol % catalyst loading. The reaction scope includes aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic amides, including derivatives of α-hydroxy and α-amino acids.