3-(4-acetylphenyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-triazene

The crystal structure of the title compound, C14H12N4O3, shows that the stereochemistry about the N=N double bond of the N=N - N(H) moiety is trans. The whole molecule is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0654 Angstrom), the interplanar angle between the phenyl rings being 0.7 (1)degrees and the largest interplanar angle being that between the phenyl ring and the nitro group of the 4-nitrophenyl substituent [11.5 (2)degrees]. Intermolecular N - H...O interactions between molecules related by translation give rise to chains along the [ 110] and [110] directions, and these chains are held together by N...O pi-pi interactions. An unequal distribution of the double-bond character among the N atoms suggests a delocalization of pi electrons over the diazoamine group and the adjacent aryl substituents.