Abstract
In the molecule of the title compound, C20H14N2O, the tetrahydrobenzo[h] quinoline fused-ring system is buckled owing to the ethylene -CH2CH2- fragment, the benzene ring and the pyridine ring being twisted by 19.7 (1)degrees. The 4-substituted aromatic ring is bent away from the pyridine ring by 62.9 (1)degrees in order to avoid crowding the cyanide substituent. In the crystal, two molecules are linked by a pair of N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds to form a centrosymmetric dimer.