N-(3-Methylphenyl)benzamide

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(14)H(13)NO, contains four molecules, which are linked through N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds into two symmetry-independent chains running parallel to [001] and [101]. The N-H and C=O bonds of the amide groups are trans oriented in all four molecules. The molecules are not planar and both aromatic rings are twisted strongly relative to the plane of the amide group. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings ranges from 70.6 (2) to 74.2 (2)degrees. The N-H bond is anti to the meta-methyl substituent in the aniline fragment in three of the four symmetry-independent molecules. In the fourth molecule, the aniline unit is disordered over two nearly coplanar positions; the anti and syn conformers occupy the same site in the crystal with equal probability.