The imino C=N double bond in the title compound, C(14)H(10)N(2)O, exists in an E conformation, with the phenyl ring being twisted by 80.7 (1)° in one independent mol-ecule and by 81.4 (1)° in the other with respect to the plane of the indoline fused-ring system. The two independent mol-ecules are linked by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a zigzag chain running along the a axis.

The title mol-ecule, C(21)H(15)NO, has an indoline-2-one and two benzene substituent groups which are arranged in a propeller-like fashion around the central C atom. The dihedral angle between the two benzene rings is 73.32 (16)° and those between the benzene rings and the indoline-2-one group are 76.54 (14) and 67.69 (14)°. In the crystal, there is an inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding int...