Abstract
The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(19)H(20)N(2)O(3), contains two molecules (A and B) with slightly different orientations of the ethyl groups with respect to the attached carboxylate groups. Intramolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds generate S(8) ring motifs in both molecules A and B. In each molecule, the benzimidazole ring system is essentially planar, with maximum deviations of 0.023 (1) and 0.020 (1) angstrom, respectively, for molecules A and B. The dihedral angle between the benzimidazole ring system and the phenyl ring is 37.34 (5)degrees for molecule A and 42.42 (5)degrees for molecule B. In the crystal, O-H center dot center dot center dot N and C-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into [100] columns with a cross-section of two-molecule by two-molecule wide, and further stabilization is provided by weak C-H center dot center dot center dot pi and pi-pi interactions [centroid separations = 3.5207 (7) and 3.6314 (8) angstrom].