Methyl 4-methyl-2-oxo-3,4-di­hydro­dibenzo[b,d]furan-4a(2H)-carboxyl­ate

The title compound, C15H14O4, has structural similarities to the alkaloid galanthamine, used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The structure consists of a fused three-ring system comprising benzene and cyclo­hexenone fused to a central furan ring. The furan ring exhibits an envelope conformation with the carboxyl­ate-substituted C atom as the flap, deviating by 0.352 (3) A from the mean plane of other four furan-ring atoms. The cyclo­hexenone ring also exhibits an envelope conformation, with the methyl-substituted C atom as the flap. The methyl and carboxyl­ate groups are on opposite side of the plane of the other five atoms of the cyclo­hexenone ring. In the crystal, other than van der Waals contacts, there are weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions present linking the molecules to form a one-dimensional zigzag chain along the b-axis direction.