N-(4-nitrophenyl) methanesulfonamide

The structure of the title compound (4NPMSA), C7H8N2O4S, closely resembles those of N-phenyl-methane-sulfonamide (PMSA) and N-(3-nitro-phen-yl)methane- sulfonamide (4NPMSA), with slightly different geometric parameters. The substitution of a nitro group at the para position of PMSA does not change the space group, unlike the case of meta substitution (3NPMSA), where it changes from monoclinic P21/c to triclinic P [Gowda, Foro & Fuess (2007c). Acta Cryst. E63, o2337]. The N - H H atom and the methyl-sulfonyl group are trans to one another across the plane of the benzene ring. Thus, the amide H atom is available to a receptor mol-ecule during biological activity. An N - H⋯O hydrogen bond links the mol-ecules into centrosymmetric dimers. © 2007 International Union of Crystallography. All rights reserved.