Experimental

R factor = 0.037; wR factor = 0.101; data-to-parameter ratio = 15.3. The title molecule, C17H15NO2, is twisted, the dihedral angle between the terminal benzene rings being 63.30 (6). In the crystal, C—H O and C—H N interactions lead to supra-molecular layers in the ab plane. These are connected along the c axis via C—H interactions. Related literature For background to the synthetic applications of 2,4-diaryl-4-oxo-butanenitriles, see: Coudert et al. (1990), 1988); Iida et al. (2007). For the preparation of the title compound, see: Coudert et al. (1990). For the structure of the unsubstituted parent compound, see: Abdel-Aziz et al. (2012)