The title compound, C(26)H(24)FNO(3), is a critical inter-mediate of a selective and competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hy-droxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding generates a chain along [give direction] that is the dominant inter-action in the crystal packing. Inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions are also observed.