2,2 '-{[2-(2-Hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylimidazolidine-1,3-diyl]bis(methylene)}-diphenol

The asymmetric unit in the title compound, C24H26N2O3, comprises two independent molecules (A and B). In molecule A, the central 2-hydroxyphenyl ring is inclined to the mean plane of the major component of the imidazolidine ring by 84.52(14)degrees, and by 68.08 (9) and 47.48 (9)degrees to the outer phenol rings. The later are inclined to one another by 66.76 (9)degrees and by 78.12 (14) and 80.20 (14)degrees to the imidazoline ring mean plane. In molecule B, the central 2-hydroxyphenyl ring is inclined to the mean plane of the imidazolidine ring by 73.64 (10)degrees, and by 75.60 (8) and 38.32 (9)degrees to the outer phenol rings. The later are inclined to one another by 69.47 (9)degrees and by 82.60 (10) and 64.26 (10)degrees to the imidazolidine ring mean plane. In each of the independent molecules, two intramolecular O-H center dot center dot center dot N hydrogen bond form S(6) ring motifs. In disordered molecule A, the O-H groups of the 2-hydroxybenzyl groups are also involved in intramolecular O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, with the O atom of the hydroxyphenyl group acting as the acceptor. In the crystal, A molecules are linked by pairs of O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds forming inversion dimers. These dimers are linked to the B molecules via O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds forming double-layered slabs lying parallel to the bc plane.