2,2′-[(4-Ethoxyphenyl)methylene]bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-one)

In the title compound, C25H32O5, the two cyclohexenone rings have envelope conformations with the C atom bearing two methyl groups as the flap atom in each ring. Relatively strong intramolecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds are observed.

In the title compound, C 25 H 32 O 5 , the two cyclohexenone rings have envelope conformations with the C atom bearing two methyl groups as the flap atom in each ring. Relatively strong intramolecular O-HÁ Á ÁO hydrogen bonds are observed.

Comment
Several methods have been reported in the literature (Vang & Stankevich, 1960;Hilderbrand & Weissleder, 2007) for the synthesis of the title compound. Xanthene derivatives possess biological properties such as antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities (Jonathan et al., 1988) and are therefore used in medicine.

Refinement
All hydrogen atoms were identified from difference electron density peaks and subsequently treated as riding atoms with

Figure 1
A view of the structure of the title compound. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at the 50% probability level. Hydrogen atoms are shown as spheres of arbitrary radius.

Figure 2
A view of the packing in the crystal structure, showing intramolecular O-H···O hydrogen bonds as dotted lines.