Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxoethyl 2-chlorobenzoate

The title compound, C 15 H 10 ClNO 5 , is relatively planar with the two aromatic rings being inclined to each other by 3.56 (11)°. The central —C(=O)—C–O—C(=O)— bridge is slightly twisted, with a C—C—O—C torsion angle of 164.95 (16)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to the (101) plane. The layers are linked by a further C—H...O hydrogen bond, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular structure. There are a number of offset π–π interactions present between the layers [intercentroid distances vary from 3.8264 (15) to 3.9775 (14) Å]. Hirshfeld surface analyses, the d norm surfaces, electrostatic potential and two-dimensional fingerprint plots were examined to verify the contributions of the different intermolecular contacts within the supramolecular structure. The shape-index surface shows that two sides of the molecule are involved in the same contacts with neighbouring molecules, and the curvedness plot shows flat surface patches that are characteristic of planar stacking.