Crystal structure of ethyl 4-[(E)-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)amino]benzoate: a p-hydroxy Schiff base

The title p-hydroxy Schiff base, C17H17NO4, was synthesized via the condensation reaction of benzocaine with vanillin. The benzylidine and benzoate rings are inclined to one another by 24.58 (8)degrees, and the conformation about the C=N bond is E. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bonds, forming zigzag chains propagating along [010]. Adjacent chains are linked by C-H center dot center dot center dot pi and weak offset pi-pi interactions [intercentroid distance = 3.819 (1) angstrom], forming sheets parallel to (10 (2) over bar).