Acidic hydrogen containing 2-isocyano-4-methylphenyl diphenylacetate, C22H17NO2, (I), was synthesized by the base-promoted reaction between 5-methylbenzoxazole and diphenylacetyl chloride. Achiral (I) crystallizes in the chiral P212121 space group. The C N bond length is 1.164(2)Å and the angle between the OCO and 2-isocyano-4-methylphenyl planes is 69.10(16)°. Molecules are linked via C=O⋯Hphenyl and bifurcated N C⋯Hphenyl/N C⋯Hmethine hydrogen bonds, forming one-dimensional arrays.