(E)-1,2-Bis(1-propyl-5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethene

Abstract

In the title compound, C26H32N4, the essentially planar (r.m.s. deviations of 0.0053 and 0.0242 Å) benzimidazole fragments are trans with respect to a central ethene fragment, and are canted in opposite directions by 2.78 (6) and 5.87 (6)° with respect to the ethene plane, giving the molecule a propeller conformation. The terminal ethyl fragments of the pendant n-propyl groups protrude to either side of the benzimidazole planes. Overall, the molecule exhibits a pseudo-center of symmetry at the mid-point of the ethene fragment. Both π–π stacking and typical C—H...π interactions are notably absent, as are intermolecular hydrogen bonds. When viewed along the a axis, the structure appears as criss-crossed layers of molecules with the planar fragments separated along the c-cell direction by the protruding ethyl groups.