4-[(1-Benzyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl) methoxy]-benzene-1,2-dicarbonitrile: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and energy-minimization calculations

In the solid state, the title compound, C18H13N5O, adopts a conformation whereby the phenyl ring and methoxy-benzene-1,2-dicarbonitrile residue (r. m. s. deviation of the 12 non-H atoms = 0.041 angstrom) lie to opposite sides of the central triazolyl ring, forming dihedral angles of 79.30 (13) and 64.59 (10)degrees, respectively; the dihedral angle between the outer rings is 14.88 (9) degrees. This conformation is nearly 7 kcal mol(-1) higher in energy than the energy-minimized structure which has a syn disposition of the outer rings, enabling intramolecular pi-pi interactions. In the crystal, methylene-C-H center dot center dot center dot N (triazolyl) and carbonitrile-N center dot center dot center dot pi (benzene) interactions lead to supramolecular chains along the a axis. Supramolecular layers in the ab plane arise as the chains are connected by benzene-C-H center dot center dot center dot N(carbonitrile) interactions; layers stack with no directional interactions between them. The specified intermolecular contacts along with other, weaker contributions to the supramolecular stabilization are analysed in a Hirshfeld surface analysis.