The anti­oxidant methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hy­droxy­phen­yl)propionate

The title compound, C18H28O3, was prepared by the reaction of 2,6-di-tert-butyl­phenol with methyl acrylate under basic conditions using di­methyl sulfoxide as the promoter. The structure of this anti­oxidant indicates significant strain between the ortho tert-butyl substituents and the phenolic OH group. In spite of the steric crowding of the OH group, it participates in inter­molecular hydrogen bonding with the ester carbonyl O atom.