(E)-1-Nitro-4-(2-nitroethenyl)benzene

Abstract

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C8H6N2O4, consists of two independent molecules with similar geometries, each adopting a trans configuration about the olefinic double bond. The two molecules are both almost planar (r.m.s. deviations = 0.034 and 0.035 Å) and form a dihedral angle of 83.62 (2)°. Short N...O contacts [2.834 (3)–2.861 (3) Å] are observed between the nitro groups of neighbouring molecules, with the O atom located directly atop the p orbital of the N atom. In the crystal, the molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by the N...O interactions and by C—H...O hydrogen bonds.