A thioacryloyl compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of OR, R and NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 ;R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.18)alkyl; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkenyl; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)haloalkynyl; 2-(5-chlorothienyl)methyl; phenyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of halo-, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkoxy-, nitro-, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl; phenacyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of ring halo-, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkoxy-, nitro-, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl; arylalkyl optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of ring halo-, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkoxy-, nitro-, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl;R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from (C.sub.1 -C.sub.8)alkyl and phenyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be joined together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached to form a ring containing 4 to 5 carbon atoms with or without an oxygen heteroatom;X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, phenyl, CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, and (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)alkyl; andY is selected from the group consisting of CN, CH(COCH.sub.3).sub.2, CH.sub.2 COCH.sub.3, CH.sub.2 CN, CH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 C.sub.2 H.sub.5 -propargyl, SCH.dbd.CHCO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, C(.dbd.NH)NH.sub.2 hydrochloride, and 2-(5-chlorothienyl)methyl;provided that when Z is NR.sup.1 R.sup.2, Y is CN; andprovided that when Z is R, X is hydrogen, and Y is CN, R is not phenyl.