Crystal structure of [1,1':3',1''-terphenyl]-20,3,300-tricarboxylic acid

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C₂₁H₁₄O₆, comprises two symmetrically independent molecules that form a locally centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded dimer, with the planes of the corresponding carboxylic acid groups rotated by 15.8 (1) and 17.5 (1)° relative to those of the adjacent benzene rings. The crystal as a whole, however, exhibits a noncentrosymmetric packing, described by the polar space group Pca2₁. The dimers form layers along the ab plane, being interconnected by hydrogen bonds involving the remaining carboxylic acid groups. The plane of the central carboxylic acid group forms dihedral angles of 62.5 (1) and 63.0 (1)° with those of the adjacent benzene rings and functions as a hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor. As a donor, it interconnects adjacent layers, while as an acceptor it stabilizes the packing within the layers. The 'distal' carboxylic acid groups are nearly coplanar with the planes of the adjacent benzene rings, forming dihedral angles of 1.8 (1) and 7.1 (1)°. These groups also form intra- and inter-layer hydrogen bonds, but with 'reversed' functionality, as compared with the central carboxylic acid groups.