Diethyl 2,5-Dihydroxyterephthalate at 200K

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₁₂H₁₄O₆, has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 200 K. The ester molecules, which are connected by intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds, form infinite strings along the b axis. Within the molecules, both ester groups as well as the hydroxy H atoms are almost in the plane of the six-membered ring, thus allowing the formation of intramolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds. Each hydroxy H atom is therefore involved in a bifurcated inter/intramolecular hydrogen bond.

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