trans-4-

The crystal structure of the dipolar chromophoric title compound, C(20)H(20)N(3)(+).PF(6)(-), is described. The phenylene and pyridyl rings are almost coplanar [dihedral angle 7.5 (2) degrees ], but the phenyl substituent forms a dihedral angle of 56.6 (1) degrees with the pyridyl ring. The compound crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric space group Cc and is a likely candidate for the display of quadratic non-linear optical effects.