(E)-N,N′-(1,2-Dicyanoethene-1,2-diyl)dipicolinamide

The whole molecule of the title dicyanoethene derivative, C16H10N6O2, is generated by inversion symmetry. The conformation about the central C=C bond, which is situated about the inversion center, is E. There are short intramolecular N—H...N contacts present and the molecule is slightly twisted, with the plane of the amide C(=O)N group being inclined to the pyridine ring by 10.6 (4)°, and by 20.2 (4)° to the plane of the dicyanoethene unit (N[triple-bond]C—C=C—C[triple-bond]N). In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming sheets parallel to (1-21), enclosing R22(10), R22(22) and R44(22) ring motifs