Bromine–bromine interactions in the packing ofcis,trans,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(bromomethyl)cyclobutane

The title compound, C8H12Br4, displays crystallographic inversion symmetry, so that the cyclobutane ring is exactly planar. The ring C-C bond with eclipsed substituents is lengthened somewhat to 1.572 (5) Å. The packing can be described in terms of three Br...Br contacts; two of these combine to form layers of molecules parallel to the ac plane, while the third crosslinks the layers in the third dimension. A simple topological descriptor for systems involving Br···Br contacts is proposed.