In the crystal of the title compound, C19H14N4O4, the asymmetric unit consists of two discrete mol-ecules. The C=N bonds in both mol-ecules show an E conformation. The dihedral angles between the C atoms of the 2,4-dinitrobenzene rings and the C=N-N planes are 13.52 (9) and 13.82 (9)° for the two mol-ecules. In the crystal, C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, mainly between the phenyl ring and the nitro group along the b axis.