N-(2,4-Dinitrophenyl)-N′-(1-p-tolylethylidene)hydrazine

In the title molecule, C15H14N4O4, the dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 2.21 (7)degrees. An intramolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring motif. The mean planes of the ortho- and para-nitro groups make dihedral angles of 2.17 (17) and 2.05 (16)degrees, respectively, with the benzene ring to which they are attached. In the crystal structure, weak intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds generate R-2(2) (7), R-2(2) (13) and R-2(1) (10) ring motifs, linking symmetry-related molecules into extended chains along the b axis. In addition, there are intermolecular C center dot center dot center dot C [3.332 (2)-3.343 (2) angstrom] contacts which are shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot pi and pi-pi stacking interactions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.8090 (9) angstrom].