The detection of the Z isomer of cyanomethanimine (Z-HNCHCN) was reported in 2019 by Rivilla et al.. The molecule was detected toward the molecular cloud G+0.693–0.027 located toward the galactic center in survey data from the IRAM 30m telescope. Previously, Melosso et al. had sought unsuccessfully for cyanomethanimine isomers toward a number of low-mass star-forming regions. Three recent theoretical papers have also characterized cyanomethanimine: Puzzarini studied structure and spectra with high level quantum chemistry, Vazart et al. characterized formation pathways and determined reaction rate coefficients, and Zhang et al. modeled their chemical evolution.

E-HNCHCN was detected in 2013 by Zaleski et al. HNCHCN isomers are members of the large family of cyano/isocyano compounds detected in space. In addition to the other recent theoretical studies of cyanomethanimine isomers, García de la Concepción et al. were able to account for the observed E/Z abundance ratio of cyanomethanimine and other imine species by including tunneling in kinetic studies.