9-(2-Chloroethylamino)acridine monohydrate and its precursor 9-phenoxyacridine.

The title compounds, C15H13ClN2.H2O, (I), and C19H13NO, (II), form monoclinic crystals. Arranged in a 'head-to-tail' manner, the molecules of the amine form (I) lie along the b axis in layers that are linked by a network of hydrogen bonds involving the endocyclic N atom, the H atom at the exocyclic N atom and all the atoms of the solvent water molecule. Molecules of (II), with the phenoxy group nearly perpendicular to the acridine moiety, are arranged in pairs related by a center of symmetry and stabilized via two C-H...N contacts; the latter are linked via a network of further C-H...N contacts and non-specific dispersive interactions.