Crystal Structure and Hirshfeld Surface Analysis of 3-(Hydroxymethyl)

Abstract

A new synthesis of the title compound, C19H21NO2, was developed with good yield and purity using the reaction of 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone, benzaldehyde and ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid as a solvent. The central piperidine ring adopts a chair conformation, and its least-squares basal plane forms dihedral angles of 85.71 (11) and 77.27 (11)degrees with the terminal aromatic rings. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by O-H center dot center dot center dot O and C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds into double ribbons. The Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that the most important contributions are from H center dot center dot center dot H (68%), C center dot center dot center dot H/H center dot center dot center dot C (19%) and O center dot center dot center dot H/H center dot center dot center dot O (12%) interactions.