Structure of 1,8-bis(hydroxymethyl)naphthalene.

1,8-Naphthalenedimethanol, C12H12O2, M(r) = 188.24, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 8.549(4), b = 4.856(3), c = 22.604(4) A, beta = 94.24(3) degrees, V = 935.8(7) A 3, Z = 4, Dx = 1.34 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K alpha) = 0.71073 A, mu = 0.84 cm-1, F(000) = 400, T = 295 K, R = 0.042 for 1455 unique reflections having I > 3 sigma I. In the title structure the exterior angles at ring atoms C(1), C(8) and C(9) deviate significantly from 120 degrees as a result of the steric interactions of the hydroxymethyl substituents. The ten C atoms comprising the naphthalene core have an average deviation of 0.012 (7) A from the best least-squares plane describing the core. The conformation of the title compound is compared to those of other 1,8-disubstituted naphthalenes. Each hydroxy group is involved in hydrogen bonding as both acceptor and donor, creating infinite chains that propagate in the [010] directions. The neutron-adjusted parameters for the two H...O(acceptor) distances are 1.78 (3) and 1.80 (3) A and for the two O--H...O(acceptor) angles are 165 (2) and 170 (2) degrees. The packing arrangement can be described as a modified herringbone structure with the shortest crystallographic axis coinciding with the b axis of the standard monoclinic setting.