Di­propyl 3,6‐di­phenyl‐1,2‐di­hydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐1,2‐di­carboxyl­ate

The title compound, C₂₂H₂₄N₄O₄, was prepared from propyl chloro­formate and 3,6‐di­phenyl‐1,2‐di­hydro‐s‐tetrazine. This reaction yields the title compound rather than di­propyl 3,6‐di­phenyl‐1,4‐di­hydro‐s‐tetrazine‐1,4‐di­carboxyl­ate. The 2,3‐di­aza­buta­diene group in the central six‐membered ring is not planar; the C=N double‐bond length is 1.285 (2) Å, and the average N—N single‐bond length is 1.401 (3) Å, indicating a lack of conjugation. The ring has a twist conformation, in which adjacent N atoms lie 0.3268 (17) Å from the plane of the ring. The mol­ecule has twofold crystallographic symmetry.