Crystal structure of r-1, c-2-dibenzoyl-t-3, t-4-bis(2-nitrophenyl)cyclobutane

Abstract

The condensation reaction of acetophenone (1-phenylethan-1-one) with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde in the molten state yielded the expected chalcone, (E)-3-(2-nitrophenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one, and, unexpectedly, the title compound, C 30 H 22 N 2 O 6, which results from the syn head-to-head [2 + 2] cycloaddition of the chalcone. The molecular structure of the dimer shows that the four benzene rings of the substituents are oriented in such a way that potential steric hindrance is minimized, whilst allowing some degree of intermolecular-interactions for crystal stabilization. In the molecule, one nitro group is disordered over two positions, with occupancies for each part of 0.876(7) and 0.127(7).