Tris{2-[(2-aminobenzylidene)amino]ethyl}amine

The title Schiff base, C27H33N7, is a tripodal amine displaying C 3 symmetry, with the central tertiary N atom lying on the threefold crystallographic axis. The N—CH2—CH2—N conformation of the pendant arms is gauche [torsion angle = 76.1 (3)°], which results in a claw-like molecule, with the terminal aniline groups wrapped around the symmetry axis. The lone pair of the apical N atom is clearly oriented inwards towards the cavity, and should thus be chemically inactive. The amine NH2 substituents lie in the plane of the benzene ring to which they are bonded. With such an arrangement, one amine H atom forms an S(6) motif through a weak N—H⋯N hydrogen bond with the imine N atom, while the other is engaged in an intermolecular N—H⋯π contact involving the benzene ring of a neighbouring molecule related by inversion. The benzene rings also participate in an intramolecular C—H⋯π contact of similar strength. In the crystal structure, molecules are separated by empty voids (ca 5% of the crystal volume), although the crystal seems to be unsolvated.