(1R*,2R*,3S*,4R*)-Diethyl 4-hy­droxy-4-methyl-2-(4-methyl­phen­yl)-6-oxo­cyclo­hexane-1,3-di­carboxyl­ate

The title compound, C(20)H(26)O(6), is chiral and crystallizes as a racemate: the relative configuration of the stereogenic centres is 1R*,2R*,3S*,4R*. The cyclo­hexane ring has a chair conformation. The ethyl fragment of the eth­oxy­carbonyl group in the 3-position is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.650 (6):0.350 (6) ratio. The hy­droxy group acts as a bifurcated hydrogen-bond donor, forming both intra- and inter­molecular hydrogen bonds with ester carbonyl O atoms. The inter­molecular hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers in the crystal.