4,6-Dinitro-N,N'-di-n-octylbenzene-1,3-diamine, 4,6-dinitro-N,N'-di-n-undecylbenzene-1,3-diamine and N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)octane-1,8-diamine.

4,6-Dinitro-N,N'-di-n-octylbenzene-1,3-diamine, C(22)H(38)N(4)O(4), (I), 4,6-dinitro-N,N'-di-n-undecylbenzene-1,3-diamine, C(28)H(50)N(4)O(4), (II), and N,N'-bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)octane-1,8-diamine, C(20)H(24)N(6)O(8), (III), are the first synthetic meta-dinitroarenes functionalized with long-chain aliphatic amine groups to be structurally characterized. The intra- and intermolecular interactions in these model compounds provide information that can be used to help understand the physical properties of corresponding polymers with similar functionalities. Compounds (I) and (II) possess near-mirror symmetry, with the octyl and undecyl chains adopting fully extended anti conformations in the same direction with respect to the ring.