Abstract. Mr=410, triclinic, P1, a= 11.201 (2), b =11.792(2), c=9.137(1)A, ct=112.13(1), t= 112.46(1), y=81.75(1) °, V=1033.1A 3, z=2, D x= 1.318 Mg m -3, Cu Ka = 1.542/~,/t = 716 mm -~, F(000) = 432, T= 291 K, R w = 0.068 for 3009 reflections. The conformation in the solid state obtained from an X-ray structure determination is compared with that observed in the liquid by NMR. The comparison is extended to diethyl 2,4-diphenyl-l-pyrroline-5,5-dicarboxylate (diethyl 3,5-diphenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-2,2-dicarboxylate) whose structure was obtained previously. The influence of the nitro group substituted on the 4-phenyl is discussed.