(Z)-3-(4-Methylbenzylidene)-4-oxopentanoic acid

Abstract

The title compound, C13H14O3, a levulinic acid derivative, crystallizes with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit. The compound adopts aZconfiguration about the C=C bonds in both molecules. The dihedral angle between the toluene ring and the carboxylic acid group is 72.83 (7)° in moleculeAand 83.64 (8)° in moleculeB. The toluene rings are inclined to the ketone substituents by 27.03 (9)° forAand 30.84 (6)° forB. In the crystal, like molecules are linked by pairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds, formingA–AandB-Binversion dimers.