Methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐allopyranoside tetrahydrate

The title compound, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·4H₂O, (I), crystallized from water, has an internal glycosidic linkage conformation having ϕ′ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_All) = −96.40 (12)° and ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_All—C5_All) = −160.93 (10)°, where ring‐atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, C5 the ring atom bearing the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group, and C6 the exocyclic hydroxymethyl (CH₂OH) C atom in the βGalp and βAllp residues. Internal linkage conformations in the crystal structures of the structurally related disaccharides methyl β‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside] methanol solvate [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], (II), and methyl β‐cellobioside [methyl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside] methanol solvate [Ham & Williams (1970). Acta Cryst. B 26 , 1373–1383], (III), are characterized by ϕ′ = −88.4 (2)° and ψ′ = −161.3 (2)°, and ϕ′ = −91.1° and ψ′ = −160.7°, respectively. Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between O3_Glc and O5_Gal/Glc in the crystal structures of (II) and (III), suggesting a role in determining their preferred linkage conformations. An analogous inter‐residue hydrogen bond does not exist in (I) due to the axial orientation of O3_All, yet its internal linkage conformation is very similar to those of (II) and (III).     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐d‐galactopyranosyl α‐d‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate

Methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·0.375CH₃OH, (I), was crystallized from a methanol–ethanol solvent system in a glycosidic linkage conformation, with ϕ′ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man) = −68.2 (3)° and ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man—C5_Man) = −123.9 (2)°, where the ring is defined by atoms O5/C1–C5 (monosaccharide numbering); C1 denotes the anomeric C atom and C6 the exocyclic hydroxymethyl C atom in the βGalp and αManp residues, respectively. The linkage conformation in (I) differs from that in crystalline methyl α‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (II) [Pan, Noll & Serianni (2005). Acta Cryst. C 61 , o674–o677], where ϕ′ is −93.6° and ψ′ is −144.8°. An intermolecular hydrogen bond exists between O3_Man and O5_Gal in (I), similar to that between O3_Glc and O5_Gal in (II). The structures of (I) and (II) are also compared with those of their constituent residues, viz. methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside, methyl α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranoside, revealing significant differences in the Cremer–Pople puckering parameters, exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformations and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns.     

Disorder and conformational analysis of methyl β‐d‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐xylopyranoside

Methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐xylopyranoside, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₀, (II), crystallizes as colorless needles from water with positional disorder in the xylopyranosyl (Xyl) ring and no water molecules in the unit cell. The internal glycosidic linkage conformation in (II) is characterized by a ϕ′ torsion angle (C2′_Gal—C1′_Gal—O1′_Gal—C4_Xyl) of 156.4 (5)° and a ψ′ torsion angle (C1′_Gal—O1′_Gal—C4_Xyl—C3_Xyl) of 94.0 (11)°, where the ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, and C5 and C6 denote the hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) C atoms in the β‐Xyl and β‐Gal residues, respectively. By comparison, the internal linkage conformation in the crystal structure of the structurally related disaccharide, methyl β‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (III) [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], is characterized by ϕ′ = 153.8 (2)° and ψ′ = 78.4 (2)°. A comparison of β‐(1→4)‐linked disaccharides shows considerable variability in both ϕ′ and ψ′, with the range in the latter (∼38°) greater than that in the former (∼28°). Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Gal in the crystal structure of (II), analogous to the inter‐residue hydrogen bond detected between atoms O3_Glc and O5′_Gal in (III). The exocyclic hydroxymethyl conformations in the Gal residues of (II) and (III) are identical (gauche–trans conformer).     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐l‐galactopyranosyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside (methyl β‐l‐lactoside)

Methyl β‐l ‐lactoside, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁, (II), is described by glycosidic torsion angles ϕ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O4_Glc—C4_Glc) and ψ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Glc—C5_Glc) of 93.89 (13) and −127.43 (13)°, respectively, where the ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 is the anomeric C atom and C6 is the exocyclic hydroxy­methyl (CH₂OH) C atom in both residues (Gal is galactose and Glc is glucose). Substitution of l ‐Gal for d ‐Gal in the biologically relevant disaccharide, methyl β‐lactoside [Stenutz, Shang & Serianni (1999). Acta Cryst. C 55 , 1719–1721], (I), significantly alters the glycosidic linkage inter­face. In the crystal structure of (I), one inter‐residue (intra­molecular) hydrogen bond is observed between atoms H3O_Glc and O5_Gal. In contrast, in the crystal structure of (II), inter‐residue hydrogen bonds are observed between atoms H6O_Glc and O5_Gal, H6O_Glc and O6_Gal, and H3O_Glc and O2_Gal, with H6O_Glc serving as a donor with two intra­molecular acceptors.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐D‐mannopyranosyl β‐D‐xylopyranoside

Methyl β‐D‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside, C₁₂H₂₂O₁₀, (I), crystallizes as colorless needles from water, with two crystallographically independent molecules, (IA) and (IB), comprising the asymmetric unit. The internal glycosidic linkage conformation in molecule (IA) is characterized by a ϕ′ torsion angle (O5′_Man—C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl; Man is mannose and Xyl is xylose) of −88.38 (17)° and a ψ′ torsion angle (C1′_Man—O1′_Man—C4_Xyl—C5_Xyl) of −149.22 (15)°, whereas the corresponding torsion angles in molecule (IB) are −89.82 (17) and −159.98 (14)°, respectively. Ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 denotes the anomeric C atom, and C5 and C6 denote the hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) C atom in the β‐Xylp and β‐Manp residues, respectively. By comparison, the internal glycosidic linkage in the major disorder component of the structurally related disaccharide, methyl β‐D‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐D‐xylopyranoside), (II) [Zhang, Oliver & Serriani (2012). Acta Cryst. C 68 , o7–o11], is characterized by ϕ′ = −85.7 (6)° and ψ′ = −141.6 (8)°. Inter‐residue hydrogen bonding is observed between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Man in both (IA) and (IB) [O3_Xyl...O5′_Man internuclear distances = 2.7268 (16) and 2.6920 (17) Å, respectively], analogous to the inter‐residue hydrogen bond detected between atoms O3_Xyl and O5′_Gal in (II). Exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformation in the β‐Manp residue of (IA) is gauche–gauche, whereas that in the β‐Manp residue of (IB) is gauche–trans.     

3‐Deoxy‐β‐d‐ribo‐hexopyranose (3‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranose)

The β‐pyranose form, (III), of 3‐deoxy‐d ‐ribo‐hexose (3‐deoxy‐d ‐glucose), C₆H₁₂O₅, crystallizes from water at 298 K in a slightly distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformation. Structural analyses of (III), β‐d ‐glucopyranose, (IV), and 2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐arabino‐hexopyranose (2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose), (V), show significantly different C—O bond torsions involving the anomeric carbon, with the H—C—O—H torsion angle approaching an eclipsed conformation in (III) (−10.9°) compared with 32.8 and 32.5° in (IV) and (V), respectively. Ring carbon deoxygenation significantly affects the endo‐ and exocyclic C—C and C—O bond lengths throughout the pyranose ring, with longer bonds generally observed in the monodeoxygenated species (III) and (V) compared with (IV). These structural changes are attributed to differences in exocyclic C—O bond conformations and/or hydrogen‐bonding patterns superimposed on the direct (intrinsic) effect of monodeoxygenation. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl conformation in (III) (gt) differs from that observed in (IV) and (V) (gg).     

Methyl 2‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside

The overall conformation of the title compound, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₀, is described by the glycosidic torsion angles ?_H (H1_g—C1_g—O2_r—C2_r) and ψ_H (C1_g—O2_r—C2_r—H2_r), which have values of 13.6 and 16.1°, respectively. The former is significantly different from the value predicted by consideration of the exo‐anomeric effect (?_H～ 60°) and from that in solution (?_H～ 50°), as determined previously by NMR spectroscopy. An intramolecular O3_r—H?O2_g hydrogen bond may help to stabilize the conformation in the solid state. The orientation of the hydroxy­methyl group of the glucose residue is gauche–gauche, with a torsion angle ω (O5_g—C5_g—C6_g—O6_g) of ?70.4 (4)°. Both pyranose rings are in their expected chair conformations, i.e.⁴C₁ for d ‐glucose and ¹C₄ for l ‐rhamnose.     

4‐Deoxy‐4‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

4‐Deoxy‐4‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I), crystallizes from water at room temperature in a slightly distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformation. The observed chair distortion differs from that observed in β‐d ‐glucopyranose [Kouwijzer, van Eijck, Kooijman & Kroon (1995). Acta Cryst. B 51 , 209–220], (II), with the former skewed toward a B^C3,O5 (boat) conformer and the latter toward an ^O5TB_C2 (twist–boat) conformer, based on Cremer–Pople analysis. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformations in (I) and (II) are similar; in both cases, the O—C—C—O torsion angle is ∼−60° (gg conformer). Intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the crystal structures of (I) and (II) is conserved in that identical patterns of donors and acceptors are observed for the exocyclic substituents and the ring O atom of each monosaccharide. Inspection of the crystal packing structures of (I) and (II) reveals an essentially identical packing configuration.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐d‐galacto­pyran­osyl α‐d‐gluco­pyran­oside (methyl α‐lactoside)

Methyl α‐lactoside, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁, (I), is described by glycosidic torsion angles ϕ (O5_gal—C1_gal—O1_gal—C4_glc) and ψ (C1_gal—O1_gal—C4_glc—C5_glc), which have values of −93.52 (13) and −144.83 (11)°, respectively, where the ring atom numbering conforms to the convention in which C1 is the anomeric C atom and C6 is the exocyclic hydroxy­methyl (–CH₂OH) C atom in both residues. The linkage geometry is similar to that observed in methyl β‐lactoside methanol solvate, (II), in which ϕ is −88.4 (4)° and ψ is −161.3 (4)°. As in (II), an inter­molecular O3_glc—H⋯O5_gal hydrogen bond is observed in (I). The hydroxy­methyl group conformation in both residues is gauche–trans, with torsion angles ω_gal (O5_gal—C5_gal—C6_gal—O6_gal) and ω_glc (O5_glc—C5_glc—C6_glc—O6_glc) of 69.15 (13) and 72.55 (14)°, respectively. The latter torsion angle differs substantially from that found for (II) [−54.6 (2)°; gauche–gauche]. Cocrystallization of methanol, which is hydrogen bonded to O6_glc in the crystal structure of (II), presumably affects the hydroxy­methyl conformation in the Glc residue in (II).     

Methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside dihydrate and methyl 2‐formamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside

Methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside (β‐GlcNAcOCH₃), (I), crystallizes from water as a dihydrate, C₉H₁₇NO₆·H₂O, containing two independent molecules [denoted (IA) and (IB)] in the asymmetric unit, whereas the crystal structure of methyl 2‐formamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside (β‐GlcNFmOCH₃), (II), C₈H₁₅NO₆, also obtained from water, is devoid of solvent water molecules. The two molecules of (I) assume distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformations. Values of ϕ for (IA) and (IB) indicate ring distortions towards B_C2,C5 and ^C3,O5B, respectively. By comparison, (II) shows considerably more ring distortion than molecules (IA) and (IB), despite the less bulky N‐acyl side chain. Distortion towards B_C2,C5 was observed for (II), similar to the findings for (IA). The amide bond conformation in each of (IA), (IB) and (II) is trans, and the conformation about the C—N bond is anti (C—H is approximately anti to N—H), although the conformation about the latter bond within this group varies by ∼16°. The conformation of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group was found to be gt in each of (IA), (IB) and (II). Comparison of the X‐ray structures of (I) and (II) with those of other GlcNAc mono‐ and disaccharides shows that GlcNAc aldohexopyranosyl rings can be distorted over a wide range of geometries in the solid state.     

Glycosidic linkage,N‐acetyl side‐chain,and other structural properties of methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d‐mannopyranoside monohydrate and related compounds

The crystal structure of methyl 2‐acetamido‐2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glycopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside monohydrate, C₁₅H₂₇NO₁₁·H₂O, was determined and its structural properties compared to those in a set of mono‐ and disaccharides bearing N‐acetyl side‐chains in βGlcNAc aldohexopyranosyl rings. Valence bond angles and torsion angles in these side chains are relatively uniform, but C—N (amide) and C—O (carbonyl) bond lengths depend on the state of hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl O atom and N—H hydrogen. Relative to N‐acetyl side chains devoid of hydrogen bonding, those in which the carbonyl O atom serves as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor display elongated C—O and shortened C—N bonds. This behavior is reproduced by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicating that the relative contributions of amide resonance forms to experimental C—N and C—O bond lengths depend on the solvation state, leading to expectations that activation barriers to amide cis–trans isomerization will depend on the polarity of the environment. DFT calculations also revealed useful predictive information on the dependencies of inter‐residue hydrogen bonding and some bond angles in or proximal to β‐(1→4) O‐glycosidic linkages on linkage torsion angles ? and ψ. Hypersurfaces correlating ? and ψ with the linkage C—O—C bond angle and total energy are sufficiently similar to render the former a proxy of the latter.     

Conformational analysis of the disaccharide methyl α‐d‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐2‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐mannopyranoside monohydrate

The crystal structure of methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐2‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside monohydrate, C₁₅H₂₆O₁₂·H₂O, ( II ), has been determined and the structural parameters for its constituent α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl residue compared with those for methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside. Mono‐O‐acetylation appears to promote the crystallization of ( II ), inferred from the difficulty in crystallizing methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside despite repeated attempts. The conformational properties of the O‐acetyl side chain in ( II ) are similar to those observed in recent studies of peracetylated mannose‐containing oligosaccharides, having a preferred geometry in which the C2—H2 bond eclipses the C=O bond of the acetyl group. The C2—O2 bond in ( II ) elongates by ～0.02 Å upon O‐acetylation. The phi (?) and psi (ψ) torsion angles that dictate the conformation of the internal O‐glycosidic linkage in ( II ) are similar to those determined recently in aqueous solution by NMR spectroscopy for unacetylated ( II ) using the statistical program MA′AT, with a greater disparity found for ψ (Δ = ～16°) than for ? (Δ = ～6°).     

Co‐crystals of 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d‐glucopyranose and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d‐glucopyranose

3‐Deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐d ‐glucopyranose crystallizes from acetone to give a unit cell containing two crystallographically independent molecules. One of these molecules (at site A) is structurally homogeneous and corresponds to 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose, C₆H₁₁FO₅, (I). The second molecule (at site B) is structurally heterogeneous and corresponds to a mixture of (I) and 3‐deoxy‐3‐fluoro‐α‐d ‐glucopyranose, (II); treatment of the diffraction data using partial‐occupancy oxygen at the anomeric center gave a high‐quality packing model with an occupancy ratio of 0.84:0.16 for (II):(I) at site B. The mixture of α‐ and β‐anomers at site B appears to be accommodated in the lattice because hydrogen‐bonding partners are present to hydrogen bond to the anomeric OH group in either an axial or equatorial orientation. Cremer–Pople analysis of (I) and (II) shows the pyranosyl ring of (II) to be slightly more distorted than that of (I) [θ_(I) = 3.85 (15)° and θ_(II) = 6.35 (16)°], but the general direction of distortion is similar in both structures [ϕ_(I) = 67 (2)° (B_C1,C4) and ϕ_(II) = 26.0 (15)° (^C3TB_C1); B = boat conformation and TB = twist‐boat conformation]. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl (–CH₂OH) conformation is gg (gauche–gauche) (H5 anti to O6) in both (I) and (II). Structural comparisons of (I) and (II) to related unsubstituted, deoxy and fluorine‐substituted monosaccharides show that the gluco ring can assume a wide range of distorted chair structures in the crystalline state depending on ring substitution patterns.     

1‐(β‐d‐Erythrofuranos­yl)cytidine (β‐erythrocytidine)

1‐(β‐d ‐Erythrofuranosyl)cytidine, C₈H₁₁N₃O₄, (I), a derivative of β‐cytidine, (II), lacks an exocyclic hydroxy­methyl (–CH₂OH) substituent at C4′ and crystallizes in a global conformation different from that observed for (II). In (I), the β‐d ‐erythrofuranosyl ring assumes an E₃ conformation (C3′‐exo; S, i.e. south), and the N‐glycoside bond conformation is syn. In contrast, (II) contains a β‐d ‐ribofuranosyl ring in a ³T₂ conformation (N, i.e. north) and an anti‐N‐glycoside linkage. These crystallographic properties mimic those found in aqueous solution by NMR with respect to furan­ose conformation. Removal of the –CH₂OH group thus affects the global conformation of the aldofuranosyl ring. These results provide further support for S/syn–anti and N/anti correlations in pyrimidine nucleosides. The crystal structure of (I) was determined at 200 K.     

Peracetylated α‐d‐glucopyranosyl fluoride and peracetylated α‐maltosyl fluoride

The X‐ray analyses of 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl fluoride, C₁₄H₁₉FO₉, (I), and the corresponding maltose derivative 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐2,3,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐glucopyranosyl fluoride, C₂₆H₃₅FO₁₇, (II), are reported. These add to the series of published α‐glycosyl halide structures; those of the peracetylated α‐glucosyl chloride [James & Hall (1969). Acta Cryst. A 25 , S196] and bromide [Takai, Watanabe, Hayashi & Watanabe (1976). Bull. Fac. Eng. Hokkaido Univ. 79 , 101–109] have been reported already. In our structures, which have been determined at 140 K, the glycopyranosyl ring appears in a regular ⁴C₁ chair conformation with all the substituents, except for the anomeric fluoride (which adopts an axial orientation), in equatorial positions. The observed bond lengths are consistent with a strong anomeric effect, viz. the C1—O5 (carbohydrate numbering) bond lengths are 1.381 (2) and 1.381 (3) Å in (I) and (II), respectively, both significantly shorter than the C5—O5 bond lengths, viz. 1.448 (2) Å in (I) and 1.444 (3) Å in (II).     

N‐Chloro­acetyl‐β‐alanine

The β‐alanine residue of the title compound, C₅H₈ClNO₃, has a ggt folded conformation, which is mainly stabilized through intermolecular N—H⋯O=C (amide–acid) and O—H⋯O=C (acid–amide) hydrogen bonds. In addition, a cis conformation is found for the Cl—CH₂—C(=O)—NH torsion angle, which is associated with the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

O‐Ethyl and O‐methyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl)thiocarbamate

In both the title structures, O‐ethyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐gluco­pyran­osyl)­thio­carbam­ate, C₁₇H₂₅NO₁₀S, and O‐methyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐gluco­pyran­osyl)­thiocar­bam­ate, C₁₆H₂₃NO₁₀S, the hexo­pyran­osyl ring adopts the ⁴C₁ conformation. All the ring substituents are in equatorial positions. The acetoxy­methyl group is in a gauche–gauche conformation. The S atom is in a synperi­planar conformation, while the C—N—C—O linkage is antiperiplanar. N—H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into infinite chains and these are connected by C—H?O interactions.     

Regioisomeric 4‐nitroindazole N1‐ and N2‐(β‐d‐ribonucleosides)

The structures of the isomeric nucleosides 4‐nitro‐1‐(β‐d ‐ribo­furan­osyl)‐1H‐indazole, C₁₂H₁₃N₃O₆, (I), and 4‐nitro‐2‐(β‐d ‐ribo­furan­osyl)‐2H‐indazole, C₁₂H₁₃N₃O₆, (II), have been determined. For compound (I), the conformation of the gly­cosylic bond is anti [χ = −93.6 (6)°] and the sugar puckering is C2′‐exo–C3′‐endo. Compound (II) shows two conformations in the crystalline state which differ mainly in the sugar pucker; type 1 adopts the C2′‐endo–C3′‐exo sugar puckering associated with a syn base orientation [χ = 43.7 (6)°] and type 2 shows C2′‐exo–C3′‐endo sugar puckering accompanied by a somewhat different syn base orientation [χ = 13.8 (6)°].     

16α,17α‐Epoxy‐20‐oxopregn‐5‐en‐3β‐yl acetate

The title compound, C₂₃H₃₂O₄, has a 3β configuration, with the epoxy O atom at 16α,17α. Rings A and C have slightly distorted chair conformations. Because of the presence of the C5=C6 double bond, ring B assumes an 8β,9α‐half‐chair conformation slightly distorted towards an 8β‐sofa. Ring D has a conformation close to a 14α‐envelope. The acetoxy and acetyl substituents are twisted with respect to the average molecular plane of the steroid. The conformation of the mol­ecule is compared with that given by a quantum chemistry calculation using the RHF–AM1 (RHF = Roothaan Hartree–Fock) Hamiltonian model. Cohesion of the crystal can be attributed to van der Waals interactions and weak intermolecular C—H?O interactions, which link the mol­ecules head‐to‐tail along [101].     

The effect of amino acid backbone length on molecular packing: crystalline tartrates of glycine, β‐alanine, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dl‐α‐aminobutyric acid (AABA)

We report a novel 1:1 cocrystal of β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, C₃H₇NO₂·C₄H₆O₆, (II), and three new molecular salts of dl ‐tartaric acid with β‐alanine {3‐azaniumylpropanoic acid–3‐azaniumylpropanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₃H₇NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (III)}, γ‐aminobutyric acid [3‐carboxypropanaminium dl ‐tartrate, C₄H₁₀NO₂⁺·C₄H₅O₆⁻, (IV)] and dl ‐α‐aminobutyric acid {dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoic acid–dl ‐2‐azaniumylbutanoate dl ‐tartaric acid–dl ‐tartrate, [H(C₄H₉NO₂)₂]⁺·[H(C₄H₅O₆)₂]⁻, (V)}. The crystal structures of binary crystals of dl ‐tartaric acid with glycine, (I), β‐alanine, (II) and (III), GABA, (IV), and dl ‐AABA, (V), have similar molecular packing and crystallographic motifs. The shortest amino acid (i.e. glycine) forms a cocrystal, (I), with dl ‐tartaric acid, whereas the larger amino acids form molecular salts, viz. (IV) and (V). β‐Alanine is the only amino acid capable of forming both a cocrystal [i.e. (II)] and a molecular salt [i.e. (III)] with dl ‐tartaric acid. The cocrystals of glycine and β‐alanine with dl ‐tartaric acid, i.e. (I) and (II), respectively, contain chains of amino acid zwitterions, similar to the structure of pure glycine. In the structures of the molecular salts of amino acids, the amino acid cations form isolated dimers [of β‐alanine in (III), GABA in (IV) and dl ‐AABA in (V)], which are linked by strong O—H…O hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the three crystal structures comprise different types of dimeric cations, i.e. (A…A)⁺ in (III) and (V), and A⁺…A⁺ in (IV). Molecular salts (IV) and (V) are the first examples of molecular salts of GABA and dl ‐AABA that contain dimers of amino acid cations. The geometry of each investigated amino acid (except dl ‐AABA) correlates with the melting point of its mixed crystal.