N-methyl-N-(1-phenylsulfonylindol-2-ylmethyl)aniline

In the title compound, 2-[(methylphenylamino)methyl]-1-(phenylsulfonyl)indo le, C22H20N2O2S, the indole system is not strictly planar and the dihedral angle between the fused rings is 2.7 (1)degrees. The angles around the S at om of the sulfonyl substituent deviate significantly from the ideal value f or tetrahedral geometry. The pyramidalization at the indole N atom is very small. Of the two C-H . . .O interactions, one influences the orientation o f indole with respect to the sulfonyl group and the other determines the or ientation of the phenyl bound to sulfonyl. The phenyl ring of the sulfonyl substituent makes a dihedral angle of 89.6 (1)degrees with the best plane o f the indole. The molecular packing is stabilized by C-H . . . pi and C-H . . .O hydrogen bonds.