Crystal structure of 1-imidazole-1-methanol.

The synthesis and the crystal structure of 1-imidazole-1-methanol, CHNO, are described. This compound comprises an imidazole ring with a methanol group attached at the 1-position affording an imine nitro-gen atom able to receive a hydrogen bond and an alcohol group able to donate to a hydrogen bond. This imidazole methanol crystallizes with monoclinic (2/) symmetry with three symmetry-unique mol-ecules.