The diastereoisomers 2-[(S/R)-2-chloro-3-quinolyl]-2-[(R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamino]acetonitrile at 100 K.

In the structures of the two enantiopure diastereoisomers of the title compound, C(20)H(18)ClN(3)O, which crystallize in different space groups, the molecules are very similar as far as bond distances and angles are concerned, but more substantial differences are observed in some torsion angles. The crystal structures of both molecules can be described as zigzag layers along the c axis. The packing is stabilized by hydrogen-bond interactions of N-H...O, C-H...Cl and C-H...pi types for 2-[(R)-2-chloro-3-quinolyl]-2-[(R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamino]acetonitrile, and of N-H...N, C-H...O and C-H...pi types for 2-[(S)-2-chloro-3-quinolyl]-2-[(R)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamino]acetonitrile, resulting in the formation of two- and three-dimensional networks.