supplementary materials
4-{Ethyl[(E)-4-(4-pyridylvinyl)phenyl]amino}benzaldehyde
In the title molecule, C22H20N2O, the central aromatic ring forms dihedral angles of 45.30 (2) and 69.43 (2)°, respectively, with the outer pyridine and benzene rings. In the crystal structure, weak intermolecular C-H
O interactions link the molecules into layers parallel to the ab plane.
For the preparation of 4-(N-ethyl-N-(4-((E)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)
vinyl)phenyl)amino)benzaldehyde: A mixture of
4-(N-ethyl-N-(4-iodophenyl)amino)benzaldehyde (3.15 g, 10 mmol),
Pd(OAc)2 (0.0330 g), triethylamine (15 ml) and 4-vinylpyridine (15 ml) were
heated at 363 K with CH3CN (40 ml) as solvent for 40 h under nitrogen. The
mixture was cooled to room temperature and added to 500 ml water. Plentiful
yellow solid was obtained by filtration. This was dissolved in
dichloromethane. The solution was washed twice with water, dried over
anhydrous magnesium sulfate, then filtered and concentrated. The resulting
solution was purified by flash column chromatography with dichloromethane as
eluent to give light yellow crystals (1.95 mg, yield 56%).
All hydrogen atoms were placed in geometrically idealized positions and
constrained to ride on their parent atoms, with C—H = 0.93–0.97 Å and
Uiso(H) = 1.2 or 1.5 Ueq(C).
Data collection: SMART (Bruker, 2002); cell refinement: SAINT (Bruker, 2002); data reduction: SAINT (Bruker, 2002); program(s) used to solve structure: SHELXS97 (Sheldrick, 2008); program(s) used to refine structure: SHELXL97 (Sheldrick, 2008); molecular graphics: ORTEPII (Johnson, 1976); software used to prepare material for publication: SHELXL97 (Sheldrick, 2008).
4-{Ethyl[(
E)-4-(4-pyridylvinyl)phenyl]amino}benzaldehyde
top
Crystal data top
| C22H20N2O | Z = 2 |
| Mr = 328.40 | F(000) = 348 |
| Triclinic, P1 | Dx = 1.246 Mg m−3 |
| a = 8.8338 (14) Å | Mo Kα radiation, λ = 0.71073 Å |
| b = 9.5747 (18) Å | Cell parameters from 1751 reflections |
| c = 10.472 (2) Å | θ = 2.3–27.2° |
| α = 86.621 (2)° | µ = 0.08 mm−1 |
| β = 84.276 (1)° | T = 298 K |
| γ = 83.886 (1)° | Block, yellow |
| V = 875.3 (3) Å3 | 0.50 × 0.40 × 0.36 mm |
Data collection top
Bruker APEX area-dectector diffractometer | 3036 independent reflections |
| Radiation source: fine-focus sealed tube | 2092 reflections with I > 2σ(I) |
| graphite | Rint = 0.023 |
| φ and ω scans | θmax = 25.0°, θmin = 2.1° |
Absorption correction: multi-scan (SADABS; Bruker, 2002) | h = −10→10 |
| Tmin = 0.963, Tmax = 0.973 | k = −11→11 |
| 4562 measured reflections | l = −12→9 |
Refinement top
| Refinement on F2 | Secondary atom site location: difference Fourier map |
| Least-squares matrix: full | Hydrogen site location: inferred from neighbouring sites |
| R[F2 > 2σ(F2)] = 0.067 | H-atom parameters constrained |
| wR(F2) = 0.210 | w = 1/[σ2(Fo2) + (0.0993P)2 + 0.5822P] where P = (Fo2 + 2Fc2)/3 |
| S = 1.02 | (Δ/σ)max < 0.001 |
| 3036 reflections | Δρmax = 0.59 e Å−3 |
| 228 parameters | Δρmin = −0.21 e Å−3 |
| 0 restraints | Extinction correction: SHELXL97 (Sheldrick, 2008), Fc*=kFc[1+0.001xFc2λ3/sin(2θ)]-1/4 |
| Primary atom site location: structure-invariant direct methods | Extinction coefficient: 0.053 (9) |
Crystal data top
| C22H20N2O | γ = 83.886 (1)° |
| Mr = 328.40 | V = 875.3 (3) Å3 |
| Triclinic, P1 | Z = 2 |
| a = 8.8338 (14) Å | Mo Kα radiation |
| b = 9.5747 (18) Å | µ = 0.08 mm−1 |
| c = 10.472 (2) Å | T = 298 K |
| α = 86.621 (2)° | 0.50 × 0.40 × 0.36 mm |
| β = 84.276 (1)° | |
Data collection top
Bruker APEX area-dectector diffractometer | 2092 reflections with I > 2σ(I) |
Absorption correction: multi-scan (SADABS; Bruker, 2002) | Rint = 0.023 |
| Tmin = 0.963, Tmax = 0.973 | θmax = 25.0° |
| 4562 measured reflections | Standard reflections: 0 |
| 3036 independent reflections | |
Refinement top
| R[F2 > 2σ(F2)] = 0.067 | H-atom parameters constrained |
| wR(F2) = 0.210 | Δρmax = 0.59 e Å−3 |
| S = 1.02 | Δρmin = −0.21 e Å−3 |
| 3036 reflections | Absolute structure: ? |
| 228 parameters | Flack parameter: ? |
| 0 restraints | Rogers parameter: ? |
Special details top
Geometry. All e.s.d.'s (except the e.s.d. in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes)
are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell e.s.d.'s are taken
into account individually in the estimation of e.s.d.'s in distances, angles
and torsion angles; correlations between e.s.d.'s in cell parameters are only
used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic)
treatment of cell e.s.d.'s is used for estimating e.s.d.'s involving l.s.
planes. |
Refinement. Refinement of F2 against ALL reflections. The weighted R-factor
wR and goodness of fit S are based on F2, conventional
R-factors R are based on F, with F set to zero for
negative F2. The threshold expression of F2 >
σ(F2) is used only for calculating R-factors(gt) etc.
and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement.
R-factors based on F2 are statistically about twice as large
as those based on F, and R- factors based on ALL data will be
even larger. |
Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å2) top| | x | y | z | Uiso*/Ueq | |
| N1 | 0.6686 (3) | 0.5962 (2) | 0.8163 (2) | 0.0589 (7) | |
| N2 | 0.8199 (3) | −0.3738 (3) | 0.3196 (3) | 0.0651 (7) | |
| O1 | −0.0027 (3) | 0.9357 (3) | 0.8369 (3) | 0.0855 (8) | |
| C1 | 0.1224 (4) | 0.9637 (3) | 0.8579 (3) | 0.0670 (9) | |
| H1 | 0.1299 | 1.0540 | 0.8831 | 0.080* | |
| C2 | 0.2628 (3) | 0.8680 (3) | 0.8471 (3) | 0.0543 (7) | |
| C3 | 0.4016 (4) | 0.9124 (3) | 0.8714 (3) | 0.0637 (9) | |
| H3 | 0.4035 | 1.0041 | 0.8956 | 0.076* | |
| C4 | 0.5361 (4) | 0.8255 (3) | 0.8609 (3) | 0.0610 (8) | |
| H4 | 0.6269 | 0.8589 | 0.8774 | 0.073* | |
| C5 | 0.5362 (3) | 0.6866 (3) | 0.8254 (3) | 0.0502 (7) | |
| C6 | 0.3954 (3) | 0.6420 (3) | 0.8015 (3) | 0.0503 (7) | |
| H6 | 0.3921 | 0.5501 | 0.7787 | 0.060* | |
| C7 | 0.2630 (3) | 0.7309 (3) | 0.8109 (2) | 0.0509 (7) | |
| H7 | 0.1720 | 0.6989 | 0.7928 | 0.061* | |
| C8 | 0.6755 (3) | 0.4681 (3) | 0.7520 (3) | 0.0502 (7) | |
| C9 | 0.6535 (3) | 0.4731 (3) | 0.6235 (3) | 0.0496 (7) | |
| H9 | 0.6291 | 0.5594 | 0.5810 | 0.060* | |
| C10 | 0.6671 (3) | 0.3521 (3) | 0.5574 (3) | 0.0522 (7) | |
| H10 | 0.6499 | 0.3577 | 0.4710 | 0.063* | |
| C11 | 0.7055 (3) | 0.2228 (3) | 0.6162 (3) | 0.0518 (7) | |
| C12 | 0.7281 (4) | 0.2186 (3) | 0.7447 (3) | 0.0635 (8) | |
| H12 | 0.7544 | 0.1324 | 0.7867 | 0.076* | |
| C13 | 0.7127 (4) | 0.3398 (3) | 0.8128 (3) | 0.0633 (8) | |
| H13 | 0.7275 | 0.3343 | 0.8997 | 0.076* | |
| C14 | 0.7174 (3) | 0.0976 (3) | 0.5376 (3) | 0.0604 (8) | |
| H14 | 0.6689 | 0.1084 | 0.4622 | 0.073* | |
| C15 | 0.7878 (3) | −0.0247 (3) | 0.5623 (3) | 0.0611 (8) | |
| H15 | 0.8373 | −0.0381 | 0.6371 | 0.073* | |
| C16 | 0.7031 (4) | −0.2750 (3) | 0.3192 (3) | 0.0608 (8) | |
| H16 | 0.6279 | −0.2837 | 0.2649 | 0.073* | |
| C17 | 0.6865 (3) | −0.1606 (3) | 0.3941 (3) | 0.0600 (8) | |
| H17 | 0.6028 | −0.0936 | 0.3882 | 0.072* | |
| C18 | 0.7943 (3) | −0.1442 (3) | 0.4789 (3) | 0.0545 (7) | |
| C19 | 0.9135 (3) | −0.2486 (3) | 0.4816 (3) | 0.0643 (8) | |
| H19 | 0.9882 | −0.2458 | 0.5378 | 0.077* | |
| C20 | 0.9211 (4) | −0.3565 (3) | 0.4006 (3) | 0.0676 (9) | |
| H20 | 1.0050 | −0.4238 | 0.4027 | 0.081* | |
| C21 | 0.8183 (4) | 0.6392 (3) | 0.8480 (3) | 0.0650 (8) | |
| H21A | 0.9010 | 0.5750 | 0.8106 | 0.078* | |
| H21B | 0.8313 | 0.7327 | 0.8102 | 0.078* | |
| C22 | 0.8276 (5) | 0.6394 (4) | 0.9886 (4) | 0.0863 (11) | |
| H22A | 0.7473 | 0.7045 | 1.0257 | 0.129* | |
| H22B | 0.9249 | 0.6671 | 1.0049 | 0.129* | |
| H22C | 0.8165 | 0.5467 | 1.0262 | 0.129* | |
Atomic displacement parameters (Å2) top| | U11 | U22 | U33 | U12 | U13 | U23 |
| N1 | 0.0578 (15) | 0.0496 (14) | 0.0732 (16) | 0.0037 (11) | −0.0218 (12) | −0.0252 (12) |
| N2 | 0.0703 (17) | 0.0542 (16) | 0.0700 (17) | −0.0036 (13) | 0.0055 (14) | −0.0210 (13) |
| O1 | 0.0712 (16) | 0.0721 (16) | 0.112 (2) | 0.0133 (13) | −0.0176 (14) | −0.0154 (14) |
| C1 | 0.078 (2) | 0.0516 (18) | 0.071 (2) | 0.0061 (16) | −0.0103 (17) | −0.0125 (15) |
| C2 | 0.0678 (19) | 0.0442 (16) | 0.0501 (15) | 0.0073 (13) | −0.0110 (13) | −0.0101 (12) |
| C3 | 0.083 (2) | 0.0386 (16) | 0.072 (2) | 0.0053 (15) | −0.0229 (17) | −0.0201 (14) |
| C4 | 0.0686 (19) | 0.0464 (17) | 0.0721 (19) | −0.0005 (14) | −0.0229 (16) | −0.0194 (14) |
| C5 | 0.0638 (18) | 0.0415 (15) | 0.0471 (15) | 0.0014 (13) | −0.0145 (13) | −0.0127 (11) |
| C6 | 0.0606 (17) | 0.0398 (15) | 0.0516 (15) | −0.0025 (12) | −0.0052 (13) | −0.0142 (12) |
| C7 | 0.0568 (17) | 0.0490 (16) | 0.0468 (15) | −0.0011 (13) | −0.0048 (12) | −0.0100 (12) |
| C8 | 0.0500 (15) | 0.0428 (15) | 0.0591 (17) | 0.0025 (12) | −0.0129 (13) | −0.0148 (12) |
| C9 | 0.0467 (15) | 0.0452 (15) | 0.0567 (16) | 0.0033 (12) | −0.0089 (12) | −0.0077 (12) |
| C10 | 0.0503 (16) | 0.0568 (18) | 0.0496 (15) | 0.0012 (13) | −0.0050 (12) | −0.0145 (13) |
| C11 | 0.0479 (15) | 0.0506 (17) | 0.0574 (17) | −0.0021 (12) | −0.0007 (12) | −0.0187 (13) |
| C12 | 0.073 (2) | 0.0423 (16) | 0.073 (2) | 0.0076 (14) | −0.0090 (16) | −0.0042 (14) |
| C13 | 0.082 (2) | 0.0547 (18) | 0.0540 (17) | 0.0067 (16) | −0.0181 (15) | −0.0105 (14) |
| C14 | 0.0536 (17) | 0.0574 (19) | 0.0694 (19) | −0.0020 (14) | 0.0002 (14) | −0.0120 (15) |
| C15 | 0.0547 (17) | 0.061 (2) | 0.0684 (19) | −0.0023 (15) | −0.0059 (15) | −0.0121 (15) |
| C16 | 0.0619 (19) | 0.0567 (18) | 0.0651 (18) | −0.0082 (15) | −0.0029 (15) | −0.0167 (15) |
| C17 | 0.0506 (17) | 0.0494 (17) | 0.077 (2) | 0.0035 (13) | 0.0046 (15) | −0.0106 (15) |
| C18 | 0.0506 (16) | 0.0512 (17) | 0.0626 (17) | −0.0125 (13) | 0.0054 (13) | −0.0165 (13) |
| C19 | 0.0490 (17) | 0.071 (2) | 0.073 (2) | −0.0028 (15) | −0.0025 (14) | −0.0155 (16) |
| C20 | 0.0600 (19) | 0.060 (2) | 0.078 (2) | 0.0078 (15) | 0.0071 (16) | −0.0132 (17) |
| C21 | 0.0648 (19) | 0.0600 (19) | 0.071 (2) | −0.0030 (15) | −0.0064 (15) | −0.0157 (15) |
| C22 | 0.098 (3) | 0.084 (3) | 0.081 (2) | −0.003 (2) | −0.033 (2) | −0.012 (2) |
Geometric parameters (Å, °) top
| N1—C5 | 1.378 (3) | C11—C12 | 1.377 (4) |
| N1—C8 | 1.426 (3) | C11—C14 | 1.483 (4) |
| N1—C21 | 1.500 (4) | C12—C13 | 1.385 (4) |
| N2—C20 | 1.321 (4) | C12—H12 | 0.9300 |
| N2—C16 | 1.323 (4) | C13—H13 | 0.9300 |
| O1—C1 | 1.208 (4) | C14—C15 | 1.291 (4) |
| C1—C2 | 1.461 (4) | C14—H14 | 0.9300 |
| C1—H1 | 0.9300 | C15—C18 | 1.473 (4) |
| C2—C7 | 1.388 (4) | C15—H15 | 0.9300 |
| C2—C3 | 1.391 (4) | C16—C17 | 1.372 (4) |
| C3—C4 | 1.374 (4) | C16—H16 | 0.9300 |
| C3—H3 | 0.9300 | C17—C18 | 1.391 (4) |
| C4—C5 | 1.402 (4) | C17—H17 | 0.9300 |
| C4—H4 | 0.9300 | C18—C19 | 1.374 (4) |
| C5—C6 | 1.408 (4) | C19—C20 | 1.367 (4) |
| C6—C7 | 1.370 (4) | C19—H19 | 0.9300 |
| C6—H6 | 0.9300 | C20—H20 | 0.9300 |
| C7—H7 | 0.9300 | C21—C22 | 1.482 (5) |
| C8—C13 | 1.373 (4) | C21—H21A | 0.9700 |
| C8—C9 | 1.375 (4) | C21—H21B | 0.9700 |
| C9—C10 | 1.373 (4) | C22—H22A | 0.9600 |
| C9—H9 | 0.9300 | C22—H22B | 0.9600 |
| C10—C11 | 1.375 (4) | C22—H22C | 0.9600 |
| C10—H10 | 0.9300 | | |
| | | |
| C5—N1—C8 | 120.6 (2) | C11—C12—H12 | 119.3 |
| C5—N1—C21 | 122.0 (2) | C13—C12—H12 | 119.3 |
| C8—N1—C21 | 116.3 (2) | C8—C13—C12 | 120.0 (3) |
| C20—N2—C16 | 115.0 (3) | C8—C13—H13 | 120.0 |
| O1—C1—C2 | 125.7 (3) | C12—C13—H13 | 120.0 |
| O1—C1—H1 | 117.2 | C15—C14—C11 | 127.0 (3) |
| C2—C1—H1 | 117.2 | C15—C14—H14 | 116.5 |
| C7—C2—C3 | 117.8 (3) | C11—C14—H14 | 116.5 |
| C7—C2—C1 | 121.4 (3) | C14—C15—C18 | 123.7 (3) |
| C3—C2—C1 | 120.8 (3) | C14—C15—H15 | 118.1 |
| C4—C3—C2 | 122.3 (3) | C18—C15—H15 | 118.1 |
| C4—C3—H3 | 118.9 | N2—C16—C17 | 123.9 (3) |
| C2—C3—H3 | 118.9 | N2—C16—H16 | 118.1 |
| C3—C4—C5 | 120.0 (3) | C17—C16—H16 | 118.1 |
| C3—C4—H4 | 120.0 | C16—C17—C18 | 120.3 (3) |
| C5—C4—H4 | 120.0 | C16—C17—H17 | 119.8 |
| N1—C5—C4 | 121.4 (3) | C18—C17—H17 | 119.8 |
| N1—C5—C6 | 121.1 (2) | C19—C18—C17 | 115.8 (3) |
| C4—C5—C6 | 117.5 (3) | C19—C18—C15 | 119.7 (3) |
| C7—C6—C5 | 121.6 (3) | C17—C18—C15 | 124.5 (3) |
| C7—C6—H6 | 119.2 | C20—C19—C18 | 119.2 (3) |
| C5—C6—H6 | 119.2 | C20—C19—H19 | 120.4 |
| C6—C7—C2 | 120.8 (3) | C18—C19—H19 | 120.4 |
| C6—C7—H7 | 119.6 | N2—C20—C19 | 125.8 (3) |
| C2—C7—H7 | 119.6 | N2—C20—H20 | 117.1 |
| C13—C8—C9 | 118.8 (3) | C19—C20—H20 | 117.1 |
| C13—C8—N1 | 121.8 (3) | C22—C21—N1 | 112.0 (3) |
| C9—C8—N1 | 119.3 (3) | C22—C21—H21A | 109.2 |
| C10—C9—C8 | 120.7 (3) | N1—C21—H21A | 109.2 |
| C10—C9—H9 | 119.6 | C22—C21—H21B | 109.2 |
| C8—C9—H9 | 119.6 | N1—C21—H21B | 109.2 |
| C9—C10—C11 | 121.4 (3) | H21A—C21—H21B | 107.9 |
| C9—C10—H10 | 119.3 | C21—C22—H22A | 109.5 |
| C11—C10—H10 | 119.3 | C21—C22—H22B | 109.5 |
| C10—C11—C12 | 117.6 (3) | H22A—C22—H22B | 109.5 |
| C10—C11—C14 | 117.8 (3) | C21—C22—H22C | 109.5 |
| C12—C11—C14 | 124.6 (3) | H22A—C22—H22C | 109.5 |
| C11—C12—C13 | 121.5 (3) | H22B—C22—H22C | 109.5 |
| | | |
| O1—C1—C2—C7 | −0.4 (5) | C9—C10—C11—C12 | 0.8 (4) |
| O1—C1—C2—C3 | 178.8 (3) | C9—C10—C11—C14 | 179.9 (3) |
| C7—C2—C3—C4 | −0.2 (5) | C10—C11—C12—C13 | 0.1 (5) |
| C1—C2—C3—C4 | −179.4 (3) | C14—C11—C12—C13 | −178.9 (3) |
| C2—C3—C4—C5 | −0.4 (5) | C9—C8—C13—C12 | 0.3 (5) |
| C8—N1—C5—C4 | −165.1 (3) | N1—C8—C13—C12 | −175.7 (3) |
| C21—N1—C5—C4 | 2.2 (4) | C11—C12—C13—C8 | −0.7 (5) |
| C8—N1—C5—C6 | 15.9 (4) | C10—C11—C14—C15 | 160.8 (3) |
| C21—N1—C5—C6 | −176.8 (3) | C12—C11—C14—C15 | −20.1 (5) |
| C3—C4—C5—N1 | −178.9 (3) | C11—C14—C15—C18 | 180.0 (3) |
| C3—C4—C5—C6 | 0.1 (4) | C20—N2—C16—C17 | 1.2 (5) |
| N1—C5—C6—C7 | 179.7 (3) | N2—C16—C17—C18 | −1.3 (5) |
| C4—C5—C6—C7 | 0.7 (4) | C16—C17—C18—C19 | −0.3 (4) |
| C5—C6—C7—C2 | −1.3 (4) | C16—C17—C18—C15 | 179.3 (3) |
| C3—C2—C7—C6 | 1.0 (4) | C14—C15—C18—C19 | 154.8 (3) |
| C1—C2—C7—C6 | −179.8 (3) | C14—C15—C18—C17 | −24.9 (5) |
| C5—N1—C8—C13 | −122.4 (3) | C17—C18—C19—C20 | 1.9 (4) |
| C21—N1—C8—C13 | 69.6 (4) | C15—C18—C19—C20 | −177.8 (3) |
| C5—N1—C8—C9 | 61.7 (4) | C16—N2—C20—C19 | 0.5 (5) |
| C21—N1—C8—C9 | −106.4 (3) | C18—C19—C20—N2 | −2.1 (5) |
| C13—C8—C9—C10 | 0.6 (4) | C5—N1—C21—C22 | 76.9 (4) |
| N1—C8—C9—C10 | 176.6 (2) | C8—N1—C21—C22 | −115.3 (3) |
| C8—C9—C10—C11 | −1.1 (4) | | |
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, °) top
| D—H···A | D—H | H···A | D···A | D—H···A |
| C21—H21B···O1i | 0.97 | 2.60 | 3.384 (4) | 138 |
| C15—H15···O1ii | 0.93 | 2.63 | 3.553 (4) | 175 |
| Symmetry codes: (i) x+1, y, z; (ii) x+1, y−1, z. |
Table 1
Hydrogen-bond geometry (Å, °) top
| D—H···A | D—H | H···A | D···A | D—H···A |
| C21—H21B···O1i | 0.97 | 2.60 | 3.384 (4) | 138 |
| C15—H15···O1ii | 0.93 | 2.63 | 3.553 (4) | 175 |
| Symmetry codes: (i) x+1, y, z; (ii) x+1, y−1, z. |
Allen, F. H., Kennard, O., Watson, D. G., Brammer, L., Orpen, A. G. & Taylor, R. (1987). J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 2, pp. S1–19.
Bruker (2002). SADABS, SMART and SAINT. Bruker AXS Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Johnson, C. K. (1976). ORTEPII. Report ORNL-5138. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, USA.
Marder, S. R. (2006). Chem. Commun. pp. 131–134.
Sheldrick, G. M. (2008). Acta Cryst. A64, 112–122.
Nonlinear optical (NLO) organic materials have been extensively studied due to their broad applications in the area of electronics and photonics (Marder, 2006). It has been found that the delocalized conjugated electrons contribute to enhancing the NLO response through their capability for hyperpolarization. As a part of our ongoing investigation of NLO materials, the title compound has been prepared. Its crystal structure is presented here.
The molecular structure of the title compound is shown in Fig. 1. Bond lengths and angles in the molecule are in agreement with the values reported in the literature (Allen et al., 1987). The C11—C14 and C15—C18 bond lengths are indicative of double-bond character. Therefore, there is a high electron delocalization in the π-system of the molecule. The dihedral angle formed by the pyridine ring and C8—C13 benzene ring is 45.30 (2)°.
In the crystal, weak intermolecular C—H···O interactions (Table 1) link the molecules into layers parallel to ab plane.