Aminodicyano alkene compounds

Described herein are novel aminodicyano alkenes of the formula RCNCNR ¦¦¦¦ Q-C-C = C-C-H ¦¦ RiRi HAVING FROM 8 TO 26 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE, WHEREIN EACH R is individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and cycloalkyl; each Ri is individually selected from the group consisting of R and aryl and Q is selected from the group consisting of Rii -N ANGLE and-NRiii Rii WHEREIN EACH Rii is an alkyl radical and Riii is selected from the group consisting of alkylene and oxydialkylene radicals. Also described are (1) a process for preparing the novel compounds of this invention which comprises reacting a secondary amine and a dicyano-substituted conjugated diene, and (2) a process for preparing the trans isomer of the novel compounds of this invention which comprises reacting a secondary amine and a dicyano-substituted conjugated diene in the presence of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid. The compounds of this invention are useful as bactericides.