Charge-transfer complexes of N-methyl-and N-ethylcarbazole with 3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile.

In the two title compounds, N-methylcarbazole-3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile (1/1), C(13)H(11)N.C(7)H(3)N(3)O(4), (I), and N-ethylcarbazole-3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile (1/1), C(14)H(13)N.C(7)H(3)N(3)O(4), (II), the donor and acceptor molecules are stacked alternately to form one-dimensional columns. In (I), the N-methyl group of the donor is nearly eclipsed with respect to one of the nitro groups of the neighboring acceptor in a column, whereas the N-ethyl group is anti with respect to the cyano group of the neighboring acceptor in (II).