2,5-Bis(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxopentanoic acid

The title compound, C19H20O3, was obtained from 1,4-bis(4-methylphenyl) but-3-yn-2-one in the presence of carbon monoxide by Ni(CN)(2) catalysis in a basic aqueous medium. Intermolecular O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid dimers [graph-set motif R-2(2)(8)]. Weak C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds between neighbouring dimers further extend the structure to give rise to a three-dimensional supramolecular network.