The title compound, C17H12N4O3, a pyrido-pyrrolo-pyrimidine derivative, is almost planar. The nitro-benzene ring is inclined to the mean plane of the 8,9-di-hydro-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrrolo-[1,2-a]pyrimidin-5(7H)-one moiety (r.m.s. deviation = 0.023 Å) by 6.8 (1)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked via C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (101).
Keywords: 4-nitrobenzaldehyde; crystal structure; hydrogen bonding; pyridopyrimidine; pyridopyrrolopyrimidine; ylidene derivative.