O-H...π(arene) intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the structure of 1,1,2-triphenylethanol

The 1,1,2-triphenylethanol molecule, Ph2(PhCH2)COH (I), forms centrosymmetric dimers in the solid state. The shortest O-..O separation, 5.837 (3)A,, is too long for any O--H..-O hydrogen-bond formation. Instead, there are O--H~..π(arene) interactions between the hydroxyl group of one molecule and a phenyl group of a centrosymmetrically related molecule. The O...C and H-..C distances between the hydroxyl group and the closest phenyl-ring C atom are 3.525 (4) and 2.73 (4)~,, respectively. These intermolecular contacts are the only driving force towards dimer formation in the solid state