Abstract
The title compound, C(9)H(10)N(2)O(3), crystallizes with one and a half mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, one lying on a general position and the other on a twofold rotation axis. The dihedral angle between the two independent benzimidazole ring systems is 18.96 (5)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonding involving N-hydroxy-methyl and carbonyl groups, and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.