The title compound, C(17)H(24)O(4), crystallizes with two independent molecules, both lying across twofold rotation axes in space group Pccn, in a unit cell whose dimensions closely mimic those of a tetragonal cell. Each molecule contains paired O-H.O hydrogen bonds [H.O = 1.81 and 1.83 A, O.O = 2.640 (2) and 2.642 (2) A, and O-H.O = 168 and 162 degrees ].