The process of invention reacts an alkynyl halide with a mixture that includes a dialkylaminomagnesium halide or a bis(dialkylamino)magnesium compound to produce a cycloalkylacetylene compound. Preferably, the dialkylaminomagnesium halide compound is of the general formula R.sub.2 NMgX (where R is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl substituent or R.sub.2 N represents a heterocyclic alkyl amine and X is Cl, Br, or I) and the bis(dialkylamino)magnesium compound is of the general formula (R.sub.2 N).sub.2 Mg (where R is a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl substituent or R.sub.2 N represents a heterocyclic alkylamine). In a preferred method of the invention, the reaction is conducted at moderate temperatures for a period of about 12 to 24 hours. The reaction mixture preferably includes tetrahydrofuran (THF), or a hydrocarbon, or a hydrocarbon-ether mixture. The preferred compounds produced by this process are cycloalkylacetylene compounds having 5 to 20 carbons, such as cyclopropylacetylene and cyclobutylacetylene.