Crystal structure of 2,3′-bi­pyridine-2′,6′-dicarbo­nitrile

The title compound, C(12)H(6)N(4), crystallizes with four independent mol­ecules (A, B, C and D) in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the two pyridine rings in each mol­ecule are 25.25 (8)° in A, 5.51 (9)° in B, 11.11 (9)° in C and 16.24 (8)° in D. In the crystal, mol­ecules A and B are linked by C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds to form layers extending parallel to the ab plane, while mol­ecules C and D are linked by C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds forming –C–D–C–D– chains propagating along the b-axis direction. The layers and the chains are stacked alternately along the c axis through offset π–π and C≡N⋯π [N-to-pyridine-centroid distance = 3.882 (2) Å] inter­actions, resulting in the formation of a supra­molecular framework.