REACTIONS OF AROMATIC NITRO-COMPOUNDS WITH ACETOPHENONE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALKALI - CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF (E)-1,2-DIBENZOYL-ORTHO-TOLYLAMINOETHYLENE

Methyl and methoxy substituted nitroarenes were reacted with acethophenone in the presence of sodium ethoxide in ethanol giving arylamino-conjugated diketo derivatives. A case of ipso-substitution of a methoxy group is discussed. The title compound C23H19NO2 (M(r) = 341.4) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n with a = 21.579(4), b = 8.526(2), c = 9.983(2) angstrom; beta = 92.3(1)-degrees; V = 1835.2(7) angstrom-3, Z = 4, D(c) = 1.24 g cm-3, mu(Cu-K-alpha) = 5.9 cm-1, lambda = 1.5418 angstrom, F(OOO) = 720. The molecule adopts the E configuration with the C = O carbonyl groups trans with respect to the ethylenic double bond.