| Abstract: | The isomers 2,3‐, (I), 2,4‐, (II), and 2,5‐difluoro‐N‐(4‐pyridyl)benzamide, (III), all with formula C12H8F2N2O, all exhibit intramolecular C—H...O=C and N—H...F contacts [both with S(6) motifs]. In (I), intermolecular N—H...O=C interactions form one‐dimensional chains along [010] [N...O = 3.0181 (16) Å], with weaker C—H...N interactions linking the chains into sheets parallel to the [001] plane, further linked into pairs via C—H...F contacts about inversion centres; a three‐dimensional herring‐bone network forms via C—H...π(py) (py is pyridyl) interactions. In (II), weak aromatic C—H...N(py) interactions form one‐dimensional zigzag chains along [001]; no other interactions with H...N/O/F < 2.50 Å are present, apart from long N/C—H...O=C and C—H...F contacts. In (III), N—H...N(py) interactions form one‐dimensional zigzag chains [as C(6) chains] along [010] augmented by a myriad of weak C—H...π(arene) and O=C...O=C interactions and C—H...O/N/F contacts. Compound (III) is isomorphous with the parent N‐(4‐pyridyl)benzamide [Noveron, Lah, Del Sesto, Arif, Miller & Stang (2002). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 , 6613–6625] and the three 2/3/4‐fluoro‐N‐(4‐pyridyl)benzamides [Donnelly, Gallagher & Lough (2008). Acta Cryst. C 64 , o335–o340]. The study expands our series of fluoro(pyridyl)benzamides and augments our understanding of the competition between strong hydrogen‐bond formation and weaker influences on crystal packing. |
