The zwitterion of 4-nitro-2-{(E)-[2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl]iminomethyl}phenol.

The title Schiff base compound, 4-nitro-1-oxo-2-{(E)-[2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl]iminiomethyl}cyclohexadienide, C(14)H(19)N(3)O(3), exists as a zwitterion, with the H atom of the phenol group being transferred to the imine N atom. The C=O, C(Ar)-C(Ar) and C-N bond lengths are in agreement with the oxocyclohexadienide-iminium zwitterionic form. The iminium H atom is engaged in a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond with the O atom of the keto group (N(+)-H...O) to form an S(6) motif. Soft C-H...O interactions in the ac plane lead to the development of hydrogen-bonded tapes, which are pi-stacked through the oxocyclohexadienide ring and iminium group. The significance of this study is in providing crystallographic evidence, supported by NMR and IR data, of the predominance of the oxocyclohexadienide-iminium zwitterion form over the noncharged canonical form in the title Schiff base.