The initial detection of vinyl cyanide (CH₂CHCN) was reported in 1975 by Gardner & Winnewisser. It was identified in Sgr B2 using the Parkes 64m telescope via a single feature in the microwave region – although the feature coincides with three rotational transitions. In 1983, Matthews & Sears detected vinyl cyanide in TMC-1 with four features. Nummelin & Bergman confirmed the inital detection in the Sgr B2 complex with many lines associated with vibrational excited states. In 2008, Agúndez et al. observed vinyl cyanide in the circumstellar shell of IRC +10216, and Müller et al. measured the spectra of the ¹³C isotope of CH₂CHCN and identified its presence in Sgr B2(N).

Vinyl cyanide is also known as acrylonitrile and 2-propenenitrile. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, such as ABS, a plastic made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.