The effect of molecular planarity on crystal non‐centrosymmetry in benzyl­idene–aniline derivatives

In the title compound, N‐(2‐methoxy­phenyl)‐4‐nitro­benzyli­deneamine, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₃, the two phenyl rings make a dihedral angle of 48.0 (2)° and the nitro group is at an angle of 6.5 (1)° with respect to its attached phenyl ring. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are related as centrosymmetric pairs through π–π interactions and are further connected through strong C—H?O hydrogen bonds [C?O 3.4259 (17) Å and C—H?O 167°], forming molecular stacks along [100]. These stacks associate further through longer C—H?O interactions, forming two‐dimensional networks. In the c direction, there are only weak van der Waals interactions. The relationship between the molecular planarity and its centrosymmetry is also briefly described.