The title compound [N,N'-bis(benzoylphenyl)methanediamine, C27H22N202] was prepared by condensation of 4-aminobenzophenone (ABP) and formaldehyde at room temperature. In the molecule, two ABP moieties are linked by a methylene group. The bond lengths and angles within the two ABP groups are very similar; however, the dihedral angles between the sets of ring planes are quite different [83.1 (5) and 57.5 (3)°].
CommentRecently, crystals of 4-aminobenzophenone (ABP) were discovered to be a new and highly effective non-linear optical (NLO) material (Frazier & Cockerham, 1987). In an attempt to improve on this material, we carried out a condensation reaction