Crystal and molecular structure of new tetrahydrobenzo[e]pyrano[4,3-b]pyridines

Three tetrahydrobenzo[e]pyrano[4,3-b]pyridines formed in a diethyl 2,4,6-trioxoheptanedicarboxylic ether-substituted salicylic aldehyde-ammonium acetate system were studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. After the introduction of a methoxy group in the tricyclic system, the tetrahydropyridine and pyrane rings adopted the half-chair conformation, while in the unsubstituted compound, the tetrahydropyridine ring has a distorted boat conformation, and the pyrane ring has a C-envelope conformation. In the compounds, the N-H?O and O-H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds give rise to the development of chain structures. In two of the three compounds examined, the hydrogen atoms at the chiral centers are in the trans-position, as in the structure of natural tetrahydrocannabinols.