3-Phenyl-6-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine

Abstract

The title compound, C13H9N5, is the first asymmetric diaryl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine to be crystallographically characterized. We have been interested in this motif for incorporation into supramolecular assemblies based on coordination chemistry. The solid state structure shows a centrosymmetric molecule, forcing a positional disorder of the terminal phenyl and pyridyl rings. The molecule is completely planar, unusual for aromatic rings with N atoms in adjacent ortho positions. The stacking observed is very common in diaryltetrazines and is dominated by π stacking [centroid-to-centroid distance between the tetrazine ring and the aromatic ring of an adjacent molecule is 3.6 Å, perpendicular (centroid-to-plane) distance of about 3.3 Å].