Structures of tribenzylmethanol and 1,2,3-triphenyl-2-propanol

Abstract

The tribenzylmethanol molecule, (PhCH2)3COH, has approximate threefold symmetry in the solid state. The hydroxyl H atom is disordered unequally over three orientations and is not involved in hydrogen bonding. The 1,2,3-triphenyl-2-propanol molecule, Ph(PhCH2)2COH, crystallizes with two molecules per asymmetric unit which differ slightly in conformation. In one of the molecules the hydroxyl H atom is disordered equally over two sites, whereas in the other molecule there is no disorder. As in the tribenzylmethanol molecule, there is no intermolecular O--H...O hydrogen bonding, presumably because of the steric bulk of the molecules and their packing which prevents the close approach of the O atoms of adjacent molecules.