(E)-4-(2,5-Dimethoxybenzylidene)-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one

The central azalactone ring in the title compound, C18H15NO4, is planar (r.m.s. deviation 0.05, 0.12 Å) in both independent molecules comprising the asymmetric unit. The benzylidene substituent is coplanar with this ring [dihedral angle between the planes = 1.8 (1)° in the first molecule and 2.8 (1)° in the second], as is the phenyl substitutent [dihedral angle between rings = 4.6 (1) and 9.7 (1)°, respectively].