| Abstract: | The Constitution of Loroglossine. Loroglossine, a characteristic constituent of orchids, is shown to be bis-[4-(β-D -glucopyranosyloxy)-benzyl]-(2 R, 3 S)-2-isobutyl-tartrate ( 1 ). Hydrolysis and esterification gave 1 mol-equiv. of dimethyl (+)-2-isobutyl-erythro-tartrate ((+)-3) and 2 mol.-equiv. of a glucoside which, after acetylation, gave 4 , identical with a synthetic sample. The erythro configuration of (+)- 3 by oxidation of isobutyl-maleic acid with osmium tetroxide and subsequent esterification. The absolute configuration of (+)- 3 was based on Horeau experiments and NMR. data of the diastereomeric mixture of its esters 7 and 8 with S (+)- and R (?)-α-phenylbutyric acid respectively. |
