Crystal structures of 2- and 3-cyanopyridine

The crystals of 2- and 3-cyanopyridine isomers have been obtained by a sublimation method. The crystal structures of both isomers have been determined on the basis of low-temperature X-ray single crystal experiments and compared, also in relation to 4-cyanopyridine. In 2-cyanopyridine the nitrogen atom of the CN group, whereas in 3- the N-ring atom, is involved in the shortest intermolecular contact. In both cases, the hydrogen bond type interactions are rather of a weak nature, but they are important for developing of the polymeric chains.