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The title pull–push chromophores, 2-[4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene]-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione, C18H15NO2 (ID[1]) and (E)-2-{3-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]allylidene}-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione, C20H17NO2 (ID[2]), have donor–π-bridge–acceptor structures. The molecule with the short π-bridge, ID[1], is almost planar while for the molecule with a longer bridge, ID[2], is less planar. The benzene ring is inclined to the mean plane of the 2,3-dihydro-1H-indene unit by 3.19 (4)° in ID[1] and 13.06 (8)° in ID[2]. The structures of three polymorphs of compound ID[1] have been reported: the α-polymorph [space group P21/c; Magomedova & Zvonkova (1978). Kristallografiya, 23, 281–288], the β-polymorph [space group P21/c; Magomedova & Zvonkova (1980). Kristallografiya, 25 1183–1187] and the γ-polymorph [space group Pna21; Magomedova, Neigauz, Zvonkova & Novakovskaya (1980). Kristallografiya, 25, 400–402]. The molecular packing in ID[1] studied here is centrosymmetric (space group P21/c) and corresponds to the β-polymorph structure. The molecular packing in ID[2] is non-centrosymmetric (space group P21), which suggests potential NLO properties for this crystalline material. In both compounds, there is short intramolecular C—H...O contact present, enclosing an S(7) ring motif. In the crystal of ID[1], molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions, forming layers parallel to the bc plane. In the crystal of ID[2], molecules are liked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds to form 21 helices propagating along the b-axis direction. The molecules in the helix are linked by offset π–π interactions with, for example, a centroid–centroid distance of 3.9664 (13) Å (= b axis) separating the indene rings, and an offset of 1.869 Å. Spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements show the ability of these compounds to easily transfer electrons through the π-conjugated chain.