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organic compounds
The title compound, C14H8Cl4N2O, is an unexpected side product of a reaction to convert an acid chloride into a nitrile, the nature of which indicates the probable mechanism of the major reaction. In the crystal structure a conjugated and approximately planar cinnamide framework is attached to an almost perpendicular tetrachloro-substituted pyridyl ring, severe steric interactions overcoming the enhanced delocalization which would occur with coplanarity.