2-(7-Methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetonitrile

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Crystallography
• Molecular Structure

Background:

• Understanding the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in organic molecules is crucial for predicting their properties and reactivity.
• Indole derivatives are prevalent in pharmaceuticals and materials science, necessitating detailed structural characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the precise molecular geometry of the title carbonitrile compound.
• To investigate the intermolecular interactions and crystal packing of the compound.

Main Methods:

• Single-crystal X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the atomic coordinates and molecular conformation.
• Analysis of bond lengths, bond angles, and torsion angles provided insights into the molecular geometry.

Main Results:

• The carbonitrile group exhibits a significant twist (66.6°) relative to the indole plane, indicating non-planarity.
• N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds were identified as the primary intermolecular force, organizing molecules into C(7) chains along the [001] direction.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a detailed structural description of the carbonitrile-substituted indole, highlighting the conformational flexibility of the carbonitrile moiety.
• The observed hydrogen bonding pattern dictates the crystal packing, offering insights into solid-state behavior and potential supramolecular assembly.