Polymeric carbon nitride, which was synthesized by polymerization of dicyandiamide at 500 degrees C, was used as a nitridation reagent in the conversion of -alumina (-Al2O3) to aluminum nitride (AlN). The products obtained at various reaction temperatures were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Al-27 magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). -Al2O3 began to convert to AlN at 900 degrees C, which is the lowest temperature reported for the formation of AlN from Al2O3, and completely converted to AlN at 1400 degrees C. The occurrence of reaction intermediates during nitridation was confirmed by Al-27 MAS NMR and XPS. The change in Raman spectra with reaction temperatures indicated that lattice defects in AlN were reduced by calcining at higher reaction temperatures.