The trimorphic structure of N,N′-bis(5-methyl­salicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine

Three crystal forms of the new Schiff base ligand, N,N′-bis(5-methylsalicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, have been found in the course of the synthesis of its complexes with rare earth metals. These forms have different numbers of symmetry-independent molecules (Z′ = 1, 3 and 4); only weak intermolecular interactions are involved in the crystal structure as the strong hydrogen bond donors are engaged in relatively strong intramolecular O—H...N bonds.