The Conformation and Crystal Structure of meso-2,10-Dimethyl- 3,1 l-dimethoxycarbonyl- 1,6,9,13-tetraoxadispiro[4.2.4.2]tetradeca-2,10-diene

Abstract

The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound, C16H20Os, has been determined by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2t/c with two molecules in a cell of dimensions a = 9.199 (1), b = 12.423 (1), c = 8.047 (1) A, and fl = 114.87 (1) °. The structure was solved by direct methods (MULTAN). Full-matrix least-squares refinement gave a final agreement index of R = 0.054 for 1166 observed reflections. The sixmembered ring adopts the chair conformation around a symmetry centre. The conformation of the fivemembered rings is nearer to a twist than to an envelope, the approximate twofold axis passing through the C(4) atom. The endocyclic C-O bonds are asymmetric and the C=C distance is longer than expected for a double bond. Crystal packing is due to van der Waals interactions only.