Methyl 3-[4-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)phenyl]-propanoate

The title compound, C17H17NO5, crystallizes with two molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The conformational structures of the two molecules show small but significant differences in the dihedral angles between the two aryl rings with values of 18.8 (1)degrees for molecule A and 7.5 (1)degrees for molecule B. In molecule A, the propanoate group is twisted out of the plane of the benzene group [C-ar-C-ar-C-C torsion angle = -44.9 (2)degrees], while for molecule B, this group lies closer to the plane [C-ar-C-ar-C-C torsion angle = 8.6 (3)degrees]. C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions characterize the crystal-packing interactions in this compound.