Structure and conformation of hydroxylubimin, a sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin
In order to determine the orientation of the isopropenyl group and confirm the stereochemistry at other chiral centers in lubimin (1) and hydroxylubimin (2), two antifungal sesquiterpenes, an X-ray structure analysis of 2 was carried out. Crystals of 2 are orthorhombic, space group P212121, a = 6.190, b = 7.210, c = 63.082 Å, Z = 8. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.045. In both independent molecules the six-membered ring is chair-shaped with all four substituents equatorially oriented. The five-membered ring, attached by a spiro junction, is a half-chair with the isopropenyl substituent in an equatorial position. This side-chain is trans to the methyl-bearing carbon in the six-membered ring.