(E)‐Methyl 2‐[(2‐fluorophenyl)aminomethylene]‐3‐oxobutanoate: X‐ray and density functional theory (DFT) study

The title compound, C₁₂H₁₂FNO₃, a potential precursor for fluoroquinoline synthesis, is essentially planar, with the most outlying atoms displaced from the best‐plane fit through all non‐H atoms by 0.163 (2) and 0.118 (2) Å. Molecules are arranged in layers oriented parallel to the (011) plane. The arrangement of the molecules in the structure is controlled mainly by electrostatic interactions, as the dipole moment of the molecule is 5.2 D. In addition, the molecules are linked by a weak C—H...O hydrogen bond which gives rise to chains with the base vector [1,1,1]. Electron transfer within the molecule is analysed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. Deviations from the ideal molecular geometry are explained by the concept of non‐equivalent hybrid orbitals.