Greenish-blue fluorescence of 6-(4-aminophenyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methoxynicotinonitrile: Synthesis, spectroscopy, crystal structure, and fluorescence property

The title compound, C20H17N3O2, was synthesized by the cyclization of a chalcone derivative with malononitrile, and was characterized by 1H NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy techniques. The crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray structure determination. In the crystal packing, the molecules are linked by N–H···N hydrogen bonds forming a two dimensional network parallel to the (1 0–2) plane. The crystal structure is further stabilized by weak C–H···π interactions. The compound exhibits greenish-blue fluorescence in acetonitrile with an emission wavelength at 476 nm when was excited at 365 nm.