Crystal structure of 1,3-dimethyl-3-phenylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione: a clinically used anticonvulsant

In the title compound, C12H13NO2, the five-membered ring has an envelope conformation; the disubstituted C atom lies out of the mean plane through the four other ring atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0038 angstrom) by 0.1877 (18) angstrom. The plane of the phenyl substituent is practically perpendicular to that of the planar part of the five- membered ring, with a dihedral angle of 87.01 (5)degrees. In the crystal, molecules are linked by weak CH center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are linked by further C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, as well as carbonyl- carbonyl attractive interactions [O center dot center dot center dot C = 3.2879 (19) angstrom], forming a three- dimensional framework structure.