A paddle-wheel motif versus an extended network: two crystalline forms of 2,4-bis(phenylamino)nitrobenzene

2,4-Difluoronitrobenzene is reacted with either one or two amines selected from aniline, ammonia, butylamine and benzylamine. All products are characterised spectroscopically and by single-crystal structure determinations. When formed as a minor component alongside 4‑dimethylamino-2-(phenylamino)nitrobenzene, 2,4-bis(phenylamino)nitrobenzene crystallises as a hydrogen-bonded hexamer, or paddle-wheel motif, encompassing one-dimensional channels, but as a dense framework when pure. 2,4-Bis(butylamino)nitrobenzene crystallises with the same hexamer motif but with offset sheets.