The X-ray crystal structure of 2,5-anhydro-l-iditol

The crystal and molecular structure of 2,5-anhydro-l-iditol (1) has been determined by X-ray diffraction using direct methods to a final residual value of R = 0.051 for 1151 reflections. The crystals of 1 are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 739.9 (4), b = 902.0 (5), c = 1109.1 (6) pm, with four molecules in the unit cell. In the crystal, the molecule does not show the expected C₂ symmetry: the ring CO bonds differ in length (145.0 vs. 143.6 pm) and the conformation of the tetrahydrofuran ring deviates slightly from the ideal ³T₄(l) arrangement (puckering parameters Q = 39.9 pm, Phi = 95.5°). Molecules are interlinked by a network of strong intermolecular hydrogen-bonding involving all hydroxyl groups. Except for O-3, all oxygen atoms act as acceptors in this pattern.