1,1,1,5,5,5-Hexafluoro-2,4-dimeth-oxy-pentane-2,4-diol.

The title compound, C(7)H(10)F(6)O(4), was isolated as an unexpected product from a reaction of tantalum(V) methoxide with hexa-fluoro-acetyl-acetone in a methanol solution. The asymmetric unit consists of one half-mol-ecule with the middle C atom lying on a twofold axis. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H⋯O and an array of C-H⋯F hydrogen-bonding inter-actions. These inter-actions link the mol-ecules into a stable supra-molecular three-dimensional network. The mol-ecules pack in a ribbon-like form in the ac plane as a result of these inter-actions.