The title compound, C(18)H(20)N(2)O(2), has been synthesized by the reaction of terephthaloyl chloride and 1,2,3,6-tetra-hydro-pyridine. This compound crystallizes as discrete mol-ecular species disposed about a crystallographic centre of symmetry, such that half the mol-ecule constitutes the asymmetric unit. The structure shows an envelope conformation for the dehydro-piperidine ring with the amide carbonyl twisted out of the benzene ring plane by 57.3 (2)°.