The crystal structure of 1-butyl-3-cyano-6-hydroxy-4-methyl-5-(2-nitrothiazolylazo) -2(1H)-pyridone (C14H14N6O4S, mol. wt. 362.37 a.m.u.) has been determined from X-ray diffraction data: monoclinic P2(1)/n, a=12.949(6) Angstrom, b=5.912(3) Angstrom, c=21.149(10) Angstrom, beta=90.23(5)degrees, V=1613(2) Angstrom(3), Z=4, D-c=1.49 g cm(-3), F(000)=752, mu(MoKalpha)=2.2 cm(-1), lambda(MoKalpha)=0.71073 Angstrom. The molecular structure is that of the hydrazone tautomer with an N-N distance of 1.341(9) Angstrom. The entire molecule is essentially planar except for the nitro and the butyl groups, The tautomeric form is stabilized by a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond [N ... O=2.615(9)Angstrom]. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.