2-C-Phenylerythrono-1,4-lactone

The title compound (systematic name: 3,4-dihydroxy-3-phenylfuran-2-one), C10H10O4, features a five-membered γ-lactone ring with an envelope conformation at the C atom carrying the hydroxy group without the phenyl substituent. In the crystal, supramolecular chains mediated by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding are formed along the a-axis direction. These are consolidated in the crystal structure by C—H⋯O contacts.