(E)‐6‐Methoxy‐3‐(α‐methoxybenzyl­idene)benzo[b]furan‐2(3H)‐one at 173 K

The title compound, C₁₇H₁₄O₄, is an unprecedented new synthetic isoaurone‐type enol ether that has the E configuration. The planar furanone ring is fused to a methoxy­benzene ring system, with an interplanar angle of 175.7 (1)°. Due to this ring fusion, the six‐membered ring has a significant amount of ring strain, as shown by the internal ring angle range of 115.8 (1)–124.7 (1)°, whereas the vinylic phenyl ring has internal angles between 119.7 (1) and 120.2 (1)°. The mol­ecules form infinite hydrogen‐bonding layers along the b direction of the form C—H?O, where the keto O atom acts as a bifurcated acceptor. These layers are connected along the c direction by another hydrogen bond with a methoxy H atom as donor. In addition to this connection, the layers are stacked via centres of symmetry by a pair of symmetry‐related benzo­furan­one ring systems.