The reaction between malononitrile dimer and 1,3-dithiole-derived polyenals affords push–pull systems with (
Z)-geometry around the newly formed C
![double bond; length as m-dash](http://www.sciencedirect.com/scidirimg/entities/dbnd)
C bond. In one instance, an unexpected shortening of the merocyanine chain takes place. These push–pull derivatives have weakly alternated structures and moderate optical nonlinearities, which can be modified by functionalization of the amino group.