Two anti-2,4-bis(3-R-phenyl)pentane-2,4-diols (1, R = Me; 2, R = SMe) have been synthesized and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR and UV spectra. X-ray diffractions indicate that intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions form one-dimensional (ID) ribbons. The adjacent infinite I D ribbons result in 3D supramolecular structures. The dihedral angles between every two benzene rings in the two diols are 31.61(12) and 31.80(7)°, respectively. UV absorption spectra of the title compounds were recorded in MeOH, C2H5OH, CH3CN, n-BuOH and cyclohexane solvents with different dielectric constants.