Crystal structure and photoreactive behaviour of N,N-diisoprop-yl(p-phenyl-phen-yl)glyoxyl-amide.

The title compound [systematic name: 2-([1,1'-biphen-yl]-4-yl)-2-oxo-N,N-bis(propan-2-yl)acetamide], C20H23NO2 was synthesized and its photoreactive properties in the crystalline state and in aceto-nitrile solution were investigated. The compound crystallizes in the chiral space group P212121. The crystal does not react under UV light irradiation, perhaps due to the presence of the biphenyl group. However, the compound is photoreactive in aceto-nitrile solution to give racemic 3-(p-phenyl-phen-yl)-3-hy-droxy-N-isopropyl-4,4-di-methyl-azetidin-2-one.