(±)‐(cis‐8a‐Hydr­oxy‐2‐oxoperhydro­naphthalen‐4a‐yl)propane­nitrile: hydrogen bonding in a Robinson‐annulation inter­mediate

The title racemate, C13H19NO2, is a pre-dehydration intermediate isolated from the base-catalysed Robinson annulation of (+/-)-2-(2-cyanoethyl) cyclohexanone. Centrosymmetric dimers are formed by reciprocal hydroxyl-to-ketone hydrogen bonding [O...O = 2.7902 (13) angstrom and O-H...O = 176 degrees]. One intermolecular C-H...O close contact is found to the hydroxyl group.