Crystal structure of a methine dye, C.I. Disperse Blue 354

Crystals of C.I. Disperse Blue 354, a commercial methine disperse dye, were grown from an ethyl acetate and the crystal structure was determined. Results show that two aromatic planes are effectively coplanar with the dihedral angle of 10.61(11) degrees. The dicyanomethylene group is slightly twisted and two n-hexyl groups tend to be separated with one alkyl group being at the level of the aromatic plane, and another one below it. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the interlayer pi-pi stacking stabilize the crystal packing.