The kinetics of reactions of CN with the chlorinated methanes CH 3 Cl, CH 2 Cl 2 , CHCl 3 and CCl 4 were investigated over the temperature range 298–573K, using laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. At 298K, rate constants of 9.0±0.3×10 −13 , 8.8±0.4×10 −13 , 9.0±0.5×10 −13 and 4.3±0.6×10 −13 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 were measured, respectively. A small positive temperature dependence was observed, as well as kinetic isotope effects of k H /k D ∼2.14–2.25. These data along with product detection experiments strongly suggest that hydrogen abstraction dominates these reactions.