4-Diethylamino-3,5-diisopropylbenzaldehyde

The title benzaldehyde, C17H27NO, was prepared via lithiation of bromoaniline and reaction with DMF. In the crystal, the molecule adopts a C2-symmetrical conformation; nevertheless, two modes of disorder are present: the orientation of the aldehyde group (occupancy ratio 0.5:0.5) and of symmetry-equivalent ethyl groups [occupancy ratio 0.595 (7):0.405 (7)]. The phenylene ring and the carbonyl group are essentially coplanar [C—C—C—O torsion angle = −179.0 (4)°] but the dihedral angle between the mean planes of the phenylene ring and the amino group = 67.5 (2)°. This and the long [1.414 (3) Å] aniline C—N bond indicate electronic decoupling between the carbonyl and amino groups. The angle sum of 359.9 (2)° around the N atom results from steric compression-induced rehybridization.