6-(2-nitroprop-2-yl)quinoline-5-carbonitrile

The title compound, C13H11N3O2, was unexpectedly formed as a minor product from the reaction of 6-nitroquinoline with 2-nitropropane and potassium cya nide, and was selected for crystal structure determination in order to clar ify its molecular structure unambiguously. The bonding pattern of the heter ocyclic ring agrees with that found in other quinoline derivatives. The nit ro group of the 2-nitropropyl substituent is oriented cis with respect to t he aromatic ring. The principal packing interaction seems to be pi-pi stack ing of the heterocyclic rings.