Structural features and reactivity of the N,N-disubstituted cyanamide ligands in the complexes of late 3d metals are discussed. The results obtained by author’s research group within the recent four years are analyzed in comparison. The reactivity of the cyanamide and nitrile ligands in the presence of the 3d-metal salts is comparatively examined. The reaction behavior of substituted cyanamides in the presence of 3d-metals is compared with that of coordinated cyanamides in the complexes of transition metals of the 4d and 5d series (platinum, palladium).