N,N′‐Bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene) adducts of ethane‐1,2‐di­amine,propane‐1,3‐di­amine and butane‐1,4‐di­amine

We have isolated and crystallographically characterized the three homologous compounds N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­ethane‐1,2‐di­amine (MeSalen), C₁₈H₂₀N₂O₂, N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­propane‐1,3‐di­amine (MeSalpr), C₁₉H₂₂N₂O₂, and N,N′‐bis(2‐methoxy­benzyl­idene)­butane‐1,4‐di­amine (MeSalbu), C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₂. In contrast with MeSalpr, the mol­ecules of MeSalen and MeSalbu, which have an even number of methyl­ene units, have crystallographic symmetry. Comparing these methoxy‐substituted species with their hydroxy equivalents shows that the aryl rings rotate upon removal of the O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. The packing of MeSalen and MeSalpr is controlled by C—H⋯π interactions, whereas that of MeSalbu has only van der Waals contacts.