1,17-Heptadecanediol.

In the title compound, C(17)H(36)O(2), one of the hydroxyl groups has a gauche conformation with respect to the hydrocarbon skeleton, which is all-trans, whereas the other has a trans conformation. The molecular shape is rod-like and the compound has a rotator phase in which molecules are assured greater motional freedom, as in liquid crystals. In addition, the molecules arranged along the longest axis, b, form layers which are very similar to those of the smectic A liquid crystals.