Abstract
The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(20)H(16)N(2)O(4)center dot-CH(3)OH, contains two Schiff base zwitterions and two methanol solvent molecules. The dihedral angles between the central benzene ring and the two outer benzene rings of the Schiff base are 2.57 (7) and 52.30 (7)degrees in one molecule and 5.83 (7) and 49.82 (7)degrees in the other molecule. Intramolecular O-H center dot center dot center dot N and N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds generate S(6) ring motifs, whereas intramolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bonds generate S(5) ring motifs. In the crystal structure, O-H center dot center dot center dot O, hydrogen bonds and weak C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions link the molecules into one- dimensional chains along the b-axis direction and are further connected by O-H center dot center dot center dot O and weak C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions into a three-dimensional network. C-H center dot center dot center dot pi and pi-pi interactions [centroid-centroid distances = 3.6228 (9) and 3.6881 (9) angstrom] are also observed in the crystal structure.