3-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-nitro-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one by 13C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis

X-ray diffraction analysis established that 3-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-nitro-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one has E configuration both in crystal and in solution. The benzoyl group deviates from the styrene plane by 89.83°. The elongation of the C=C bond and shortening of its surrounding single bonds points to a high polarization of the molecule, implying a great contribution of the bipolar structure to the ground state.