The reaction of 5-methyl-2-phenyl-2H-1,2,4-triazol-3(4H)-one, benzaldehyde and malononitrile in ethanol in the presence of triethylamine produced the title compound, C10H8N2, rather than the anticipated polysubstituted 2,6-dicyanoaniline. The plane defined by the phenyl ipso-C atom, the methylene C atom and the central C atom of the malononitrile group is roughly orthogonal to the benzene ring plane [dihedral angle = 81.6 (2)°]; one of the nitrile groups of the malononitrile almost lies in this plane [corresponding C(Ph)-CH2-C-CN torsion angle = 176.06 (17)°...
