The title compound, C18H16O3, (I), was prepared in the course of studies to
wards the synthesis of furofuran ligands and was reported previously [Brown
& Hinks (1998). Chem. Commun. pp. 1895-1896]. The compound is a a model sy
stem, where both oxygenated aromatic rings that are present in the natural
products have been substituted by a simple phenyl group.