Yan, Shiqiang et al. published their research in Youji Huaxue in 2019 | CAS: 55490-87-4

2-(Anthracen-9-ylmethylene)malononitrile (cas: 55490-87-4) belongs to nitriles. The R-C-N bond angle in and nitrile is 180° which give a nitrile functional group a linear shape. Both the carbon and the nitrogen are sp hydridized which leaves them both with two p orbitals which overlap to form the two π bond in the triple bond. Some nitriles are manufactured by heating carboxylic acids with ammonia in the presence of catalysts. This process is used to make nitriles from natural fats and oils, the products being used as softening agents in synthetic rubbers, plastics, and textiles and for making amines.Computed Properties of C18H10N2

Zinc-proline complex catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation in water was written by Yan, Shiqiang;Guo, Wei;Wang, Wensheng;Zhang, Wei. And the article was included in Youji Huaxue in 2019.Computed Properties of C18H10N2 This article mentions the following:

Zinc-proline complex catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation in water was reported. Seventeen aldehydes and two ketones were investigated, which coupled with malononitrile smoothly affording desired Knoevenagel condensation products in 5∼10 min at 80°C in the yields of 84%∼99%. The catalyst can be recovered and reused for ten cycles without loss of activity. In the experiment, the researchers used many compounds, for example, 2-(Anthracen-9-ylmethylene)malononitrile (cas: 55490-87-4Computed Properties of C18H10N2).

2-(Anthracen-9-ylmethylene)malononitrile (cas: 55490-87-4) belongs to nitriles. The R-C-N bond angle in and nitrile is 180° which give a nitrile functional group a linear shape. Both the carbon and the nitrogen are sp hydridized which leaves them both with two p orbitals which overlap to form the two π bond in the triple bond. Some nitriles are manufactured by heating carboxylic acids with ammonia in the presence of catalysts. This process is used to make nitriles from natural fats and oils, the products being used as softening agents in synthetic rubbers, plastics, and textiles and for making amines.Computed Properties of C18H10N2

Referemce:
Nitrile – Wikipedia,
Nitriles – Chemistry LibreTexts