The mol-ecular structure of the title compound, C(18)H(16)O(3), exhibits a new R(2)-C(COOMe)(OCH(2)CCH) group. The C-O-C-C torsion angle is 153.3 (1)°. The dihedral angles are 79.89 (5)° between phen-yl/phenyl planes, and 73.13 (5) and 79.05 (8)° for the two COOMe/phenyl plane pairs.