2-Biphenylol revisited.

The substantially disordered structure of 2-biphenylol [Perrin et al. (1987). Acta Cryst. C43, 980-982; Kapon & Reisner (1988). Acta Cryst. C44, 2039] has been reinvestigated as a function of temperature. The structure was determined at 305, 294, 145 and 90 K; crystals were taken to the lowest temperature both rapidly and slowly (0.1 K min(-1)). The results of the previous room-temperature study were confirmed and no important structural change was found down to 90 K. Comparisons with structures known for other simple 2- and 2,2'-substituted biphenyl derivatives suggest that the molecular stacks found for 2-biphenylol are probable for related molecules. The disorder in 2-biphenylol allows the formation of some O-H...O bonds, but packing efficiency is a more important factor in this structure than is hydrogen bonding.