Crystal structure of 3-[4-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one

The title compound, C22H20O, was synthesized by reacting 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde with 2-acetonaphtone by aldolic condensation under Claisen-Schmidt conditions. The molecule consists of a naphthalene group and a benzene ring with a pendant isopropyl moiety, both rings bound by a propenone linker. The naphthalene ring system is almost planar [maximum deviation from the least-squares plane = 0.026 (10) angstrom] and subtends a dihedral angle of 52.31 (4)degrees with the benzene ring. The propenone linker, in turn, deviates slightly more from planarity [maximum deviation = 0.125 (18)angstrom] and has its least-squares plane oriented midway the former two, at 25.62 (6) and 28.02 (5)degrees from the naphthalene ring system and the benzene ring, respectively. Finally, the isopropyl group presents its CC2 plane almost perpendicular to the benzene ring, at 85.30 (4)degrees. No significant hydrogen bonding or pi-pi stacking interactions are found in the crystal structure.