“…11,12 The chemistry of TCNE has been extensively reviewed. 7,13−19 With primary or secondary aliphatic amines and with most primary and secondary aromatic amines, the reaction with TCNE gives N-tricyanovinylamines 1, although with an excess of amine, 1,1-diamino-2,2-dicyanoethylenes 2 13,20,21 or 1,2diamino-1,2-dicyanoethylenes 3 22 are formed. TCNE does not react with tertiary aliphatic amines, but it readily reacts with both tertiary and secondary aromatic amines, attacking the arene to give 4-tricyanovinyl-arylamines 4 via the initial formation of a 1:1 π complex.…”