Crystal and mol-ecular structure of 2-methyl-1,4-phenyl-ene bis-(3,5-di-bromo-benzoate)

The aryl diester compound, 2-methyl-1,4-phenyl-ene bis-(3,5-di-bromo-benzoate), C₂₁H₁₂Br₄O₄, was synthesized by esterification of methyl hydro-quinone with 3,5-di-bromo-benzoic acid. A crystalline sample was obtained by cooling a sample of the melt (m.p. = 502 K/DSC) to room temperature. The mol-ecular structure consists of a central benzene ring with anti-3,5-di-bromo-benzoate groups symmetrically attached at the 1 and 4 positions and a methyl group attached at the 2 position of the central ring. In the crystal structure (space group P), mol-ecules of the title aryl diester are located on inversion centers imposing disorder of the methyl group and H atom across the central benzene ring. The crystal structure is consolidated by a network of C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds in addition to weaker and offset π-π inter-actions involving the central benzene rings as well as the rings of the attached 3,5-di-bromo-benzoate groups.