r-1,t-3-Bis[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]-c-2,t-4-bis­(pyridin-4-yl)cyclo­butane

The title compound, C₃₀H₃₂N₄, was synthesized by the photodimerization of trans-4-{2-[4-(di­methyl­amino)­phen­yl]ethen­yl}pyridine in benzene upon irradiation with UV light. This photodimer has a puckered cyclo­butane ring with the four aryl substituents in an r-1,t-2,c-3,t conformation. The puckering angle of the cyclo­butane ring is 32.22 (7)°, which is the largest among reported tetra­aryl-substituted cyclo­butanes. In the crystal, the mol­ecules form a hollow, one-dimensional structure extending parallel to the c axis via two different pairs of C—H...π inter­actions.