Hydrazone-aromatic interaction: the vital role in molecular self-assembly of benzaldehyde hydrazones

A scarce NN = C center dot center dot center dot pi interaction, which plays an essential role in defining the crystal packing patterns, has been found widespread in benzaldehyde (cyanoacetyl)hydrazones, and is rationalized by density functional theory calculations. Molecular electrostatic potential analyses offer effective further support for the interaction.