Dimethyl 4,4′-(diazenediyl)dibenzoate at 100 K

In the asymmetric part of the unit cell of the title compound, C16H14N2O4, there are two chemically equivalent but crystallographic independent half molecules. The geometric centre of each complete molecule lies on a crystallographic inversion centre. Both molecules are almost planar [mean deviations of atoms in the two molecules are 0.032 (2) and 0.044 (2) Å] and their geometries are similar. In the crystal, molecules are arranged in columns along the a axis. There are no intermolecular donor–acceptor distances shorter than 3.4 Å.