A process for the preparation of 3-substituted 4-cyano-pyrrole compounds of the formula (I) in which Ar has the meaning given in the description, by reaction in a 1st stage of bromides (II) Ar—Br  (II) with acrylonitrile in the presence of a solvent and a suitable reaction auxiliary to give acrylonitrile derivatives (III) Ar—CH═CH—CN  (III) and in a 2nd stage with a phenylsulphonylmethyl isocyanide (IV) Ph—SO2—CH2—CN  (IV) in the presence of a solvent and optionally in the presence of a suitable reaction auxiliary, characterised in that the the 1st stage is carried out in the presence of a palladium catalyst and the 2nd stage in the presence of a 1.2- to 1.8-fold molar excess of alkali metal alcoholate or alkali metal hydroxide.