The Preparation and Crystal Structure of 2-Phenoxypropenoic Acid
The potential herbicide 2-phenoxypropenoic acid has been synthesized, and its structure has been determined by X-ray methods and refined to a residual R 0.068 for 564 observed reflections. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pbca with Z 8 in a cell of dimensions a 5.6547(9), b 9.263(2), c 31.76(1) � . The carboxylic acid groups form centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded cyclic dimers [O…O 2.62(1) � ], while the oxypropenoic acid side chain is essentially planar but inclined to the plane of the benzene ring [dihedral angle 71.5(7)°].