N,N′-Dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylethylenediamine

Abstract

The centrosymmetric title compound, C16H20N2, was synthesized by deprotonation of N,N′-diphenyl­ethyl­enediamine with n-BuLi in tetra­hydro­furan. The coordination geometry around the N atoms is trigonal planar and the conformation about the ethane bond is staggered. The crystal structure displays inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions which give rise to infinite pleated layers extended in the bc plane. The possibility of obtaining an amine that can undergo crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation is discussed. This would enable the preparation of the pure enantiomers by absolute asymmetric synthesis.