The antioxidant methyl 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propionate

The title compound, C₁₈H₂₈O₃, was prepared by the reaction of 2,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol with methyl acrylate under basic conditions using dimethyl sulfoxide as the promoter. The structure of this antioxidant indicates significant strain between the ortho tert‐butyl substituents and the phenolic OH group. In spite of the steric crowding of the OH group, it participates in intermolecular hydrogen bonding with the ester carbonyl O atom.