Structure of Ethyl 5-Methoxy-3-phenyl-2-indolecarboxylate

C18H17NO3, M r = 295"34, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 11.689 (2), b = 22.934 (4), c = 11.592 (2) A, fl=100.16(3) ° , V =3058.8(8) A 3, Z=8, D,n= 1.30 (5), Dx = 1.28 Mg m -3, A(Mo Ka) = 0.7107 A, tz(Mo Ka) = 0.094 mm- 1, F(000) = 1248, T = 300 K, final R = 0.046 for 1849 observed reflections [I > 30"(/)]. The indole nucleus is slightly bent along the C(8)---C(9) bond. The phenyl ring connected to the indole moiety is rotated about the C(3)---C(10) bond by 45.8 (3) °. The carboxyl group makes a dihedral angle of 8.1 (4) ° with the mean plane of the indole moiety. Centrosymmetrically related pairs of molecules are linked through hydrogen bonds across the centre of symmetry and form dimers.