(4R,4aR,6S,7S,7aS)‐6‐Hydro­xy‐7‐hy­droxy­methyl‐4‐methyl­per­hydro­cyclo­penta­[c]­pyran‐1‐one chloro­form solvate from Valeriana laxiflora

The structure of an iridolactone isolated from Valeriana laxiflora was established as (4R,4aR,6S,7S,7aS)‐6‐hydroxy‐7‐hydroxy­methyl‐4‐methyl­per­hydro­cyclo­penta­c]­pyran‐1‐one chloro­form solvate, C₁₀H₁₆O₄·CHCl₃. The two rings are cis‐fused. The δ‐lactone ring adopts a slightly twisted half‐chair conformation with approximate planarity of the lactone group and the cyclo­pentane ring adopts an envelope conformation. The hydroxy group, the hydroxymethyl group and the methyl group all have β orientations. The absolute configuration was determined using anomalous dispersion data enhanced by the adventitious inclusion of a chloro­form solvent mol­ecule. Hydro­gen bonding, crystal packing and ring conformations are discussed in detail.