Structures of rac-2,4:3,5-di-methyl-ene xylitol -derivatives.

The structures of three racemic (tetra-hydro-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxin-4-yl)methanol derivatives are reported, namely, 4-[(methyl-sulfon-yloxy)meth-yl]-2,4,4a,6,8,8a-hexa-hydro-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxine, C(8)H(14)O(7)S, 1, 4-[(benz-yloxy)meth-yl]-2,4,4a,6,8,8a-hexa-hydro-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxine, C(14)H(18)O(5), 2, and 4-[(anilinocarbon-yl)meth-yl]-2,4,4a,6,8,8a-hexa-hydro-[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxine, C(14)H(17)NO(6), 3. Mesylate ester 1 at 173†K has triclinic P symmetry and both benzyl ether 2 at 173†K and phenyl urethane 3 have monoclinic P2(1)/c symmetry. These structures are of inter-est because of the conformation of the cis-fused tetra-oxadeca-lin ring system. This cis-bi-cyclo-[4.4.0]decane ring system, i.e. cis-deca-lin, can undergo conformational equilibration. In the two most stable conformers, both six-membered rings adopt a chair conformation. However, there are significant consequences in these two stable conformers, with heteroatom substitution at the 1,3,5,7-ring positions as described. Only one conformation, denoted as 'concave' or 'inside', is found in these crystal structures. This is consistent with previously reported structures of the 1,1-geminal dihy-droxy aldehyde and tosyl-ate analogs.