Structure of Equilenin at 100 K: an estrone-related steroid
The structure of the estrone-related steroid, Equilenin, C18H18O2 (systematic name 3-hydroxy-13-methyl-11,12,13,14,15,16-hexahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-one), has been determined at 100 K. The crystals are orthorhombic, P212121, and the absolute structure of the molecule in the crystal has been determined by resonant scattering [Flack parameter = −0.05 (4)]. The C atoms of the A and B rings are almost coplanar, with an r.m.s. deviation from planarity of 0.0104 Å. The C ring has a sofa conformation, while the D ring has an envelope conformation with the methine C atom as the flap. The keto O atom and the methyl group are translated 0.78 and 0.79 Å, respectively, from the equivalent positions on 17β-estrone. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the c-axis direction.