Second-order rate constants (kN) have been measured for Michael-type addition reactions of a series of alicyclic secondary amines to 1-phenyl-2-propyn-1-one (2) in MeCN at 25.0 ${pm}$ 0.1 ${^{circ}C}$. All the amines studied are less reactive in MeCN than in $H_2O$ although they are more basic in the aprotic solvent by 7-9 p$K_a$ units. The Bronsted-type plot is linear with $eta_{nuc}$ = 0.40, which is slightly larger than that reported previously for the corresponding reactions in $H_2O$ ($eta_{nuc}$ = 0.27). Product analysis has shown that only E-isomer is produced. Kinetic isotope effect is absent for the reactions of 2 with morpholine and deuterated morpholine (i.e., $k^H/k^D$ = 1.0). Thus, the reaction has been concluded to proceed through a stepwise mechanism, in which proton transfer occurs after the rate-determining step. The reaction has been suggested to proceed through a tighter transition state in MeCN than in H2O on the basis of the larger $eta_{nuc}$ in the aprotic solvent. The nature of the transition state has been proposed to be responsible for the decreased reactivity in the aprotic solvent.