Synthesis and crystal structure of methyl 3-(3-hy-droxy-3-phenyl-prop-2-eno-yl)benzoate.

The title compound, C17H14O4, was synthesized under mild conditions and characterized by various analytical techniques. Combined NMR and X-ray diffraction data show that the substance exists exclusively in the enol tautomeric form. An intra-molecular ⋯O=C-C=C-OH⋯ hydrogen bond is present in the mol-ecular structure. The analysis of the difference density map disclosed two adjacent positions of a disordered hydrogen atom taking part in this hydrogen bond, indicating the presence of two enol tautomers in the crystal. The enol mol-ecules are assembled through numerous C-H⋯π and π-π as well as weak C(ar-yl)-H⋯O inter-actions, thus forming a dense crystal packing. The obtained substance was also studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.