The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C 18 H 20 N 2 O 6 , contains one-half molecule, the mid-point of the central C-C bond being located on a crystallographic inversion centre. In the crystal, weak C-HÁ Á ÁO interactions generate a layered structure. The O atoms of the nitro group are disordered over two sets of sites with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.700 (8):0.300 (8).
Structure descriptionThe title compound ( Fig. 1) crystallizes with the molecule being situated on a crystallographic inversion centre located at the midpoint of the C7-C7A bond. The two parallel phenyl rings are linked by an ethereal chain, forming a non-coplanar structure similar to that described by Elizondo et al. (2009).In the crystal, the molecules are linked into chains by the C7-H7AÁ Á ÁO3 interactions (Table 1, Fig. 2). The chains are connected into layers by C9-H9AÁ Á ÁO2 interactions (Table 1, Fig. 3).
Synthesis and crystallizationTo a solution of 4-methyl-2-nitrophenol (5.00 g, 32.7 mmol) in acetonitrile (100 ml) were added potassium carbonate (6.78 g, 50.0 mmol) and 1,4-dibromobutane (3.30 g, 15.3 mmol). After the reaction mixture had been refluxed for 6 h, all the volatile components were evaporated and the residue was partitioned between dichloromethane and water. The organic phase was washed with water, then dried in calcium chloride, and concentrated in vacuo to give an off-white solid. White single crystals were obtained in a yield of 62% using acetonitrile crude extraction.