Dicyanobenzanthrone compounds

A compound of the formula ##STR94## in which X is hydrogen, halogen, nitro, NH.sub.2, Y is --O-- or --S--, A is an aliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic bridge member, m is 1, 2 or 3, R is hydrogen or a radical ##STR95## in which R.sup.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aryl group, with the proviso that if R is hydrogen, Y is oxygen and X is hydrogen or halogen bound to the 6 or 7 position of the benzanthrone ring, A as aliphatic bridge member is limited to a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 aliphatic bridge member.