Crystal structure and computational study of 3,4-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-9-methyl-6-methylidene-3a, 4,5,6,6a, 9,9a, 9b-octahydroazuleno[4,5-b]furan-2,8(3H,7H)-dione

Abstract

In the molecule of title compound, C15H20O6, also known as cynarinin A, the cyclopentane ring having twist conformation and a gamma-lactone ring assuming an envelope conformation are trans-and cis-fused, respectively, to a cycloheptane ring adopting a twist-chair conformation. In the crystal, O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds link neighbouring molecules, forming a three-dimensional network. Theoretical calculations of the molecular structure using the CNDO approximation and MOPAC PM3 geometry optimization are in satisfactory agreement with the results of the X-ray structure analysis.