2,2′-(2,6-Pyridinediyl)diquinoline

Abstract

The title molecule, C23H15N3, is a terpyridine derivative resulting from the Friedländer annulation between 2,6-diacetylpyridine and N,N′-bis(2-aminobenzyl)ethylenediamine. The asymmetric unit contains one half-molecule, the complete molecule being generated by a mirror plane (one N atom and one C atom lie on the plane). The molecule, although aromatic, is deformed from planarity as a result of crystal packing forces: molecules are stacked along the short c axis, with a short separation of 3.605 (1) Å between the mean planes. The bent molecular shape is reflected in the dihedral angle of 16.10 (5)° between the essentially planar quinoline groups. In addition to π...π interactions, the crystal structure features weak inter-stack C—H...N contacts involving atoms of the central pyridine rings which lie in a common crystallographic m plane.