Ethyl (E)-3-(anthracen-9-yl)prop-2-enoate

In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C₁₉H ₁₆O₂, there are two symmetry-independent molecules (A and B) that differ in the conformation of the ester ethoxy group. In the crystal, the molecules form inversion dimers via pairs of C - H⋯O interactions. Within the dimers, the anthracenyl units have interplanar distances of 0.528(2) and 0.479(2)Å for dimers of molecules A and B, respectively. Another short C - H⋯O contact between symmetry-independent dimers links them into columns parallel to [10-1]. These columns are arranged into (111) layers and there are π-π stacking interactions [centroid-centroid distances = 3.6446(15) and 3.6531(15)Å] between the anthracenyl units from the neighbouring columns. In addition, there are C - H⋯π interactions between the anthracenyl unit of dimers A and dimers B within the same column.