Structural analysis of pyrrolidinones

In the course of a study on pyrrolidinones, the crystal structures of four compounds, namely, methyl N‐[(4‐meth­oxy­phenyl)(3,4,5‐tri­meth­oxy­phenyl)­methyl]­pyro­glut­amate, C₂₃­H₂₇­NO₇, methyl N‐[naphthyl‐(3,4,5‐tri­meth­oxy­phenyl)­methyl]­pyro­glut­amate diacetyl peroxide, C₂₆­H₂₇­NO₆·‐0.5C₄H₆O₄, 5‐(3,4,5‐tri­meth­oxy­phenyl)‐1,2,3,11b‐tetrahy­dro‐5H‐naphtho­[1,8‐f,g]indol­izin‐3‐one, C₂₄­H₂₃­NO₄, and 5‐(3,4,5‐tri­meth­oxy­phenyl)‐1,2,3,5,12,12a‐hexa­hydro­naph­tho­[1,2‐f]indol­izine‐3,12‐dione, C₂₅­H₂₃­NO₅, are presented, compared and discussed.     

Full stereochemical understanding in a new (2R,3R,4R)-4-hydroxyisoleucine synthesis

We present the crystal and molecular structures of 2,3,6,7,8,8a-hexa­hydro-6,8-methano-7,7,8a-tri­methyl-3-(1-methyl-2-oxo­propyl­idene)-5H-1,4-benzoxazin-2-one, C₁₆H₂₁NO₃, (III), and 2,3,6,7,8,8a-hexa­hydro-3-(2-hydroxy-1-methyl­propyl)-6,8-methano-7,7,8a-tri­methyl-5H-1,4-benzoxazin-2-one, C₁₆H₂₅NO₃, (V). These compounds are two of the four key intermediates in our synthetic route to (2R,3R,4R)-4-hydroxy­isoleucine. The two structures provide a full understanding of the stereochemistry in successive steps. This synthesis was based on a new optically pure chiral oxazinone auxiliary derived from (1R,2R,5R)-2-hydroxy­pinan-3-one.     

New electron‐deficient chiral phosphines: (4R,5R)‐1,3‐bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)perhydro‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaphosphol‐2‐yl] substituted amines

Three chiral electron‐deficient phosphine ligands, [(4R,15R)‐,3‐bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonyl)­per­hydro‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaphosphol‐2‐yl]­diethyl­amine, C₁₂H₂₀F₆N₃O₄PS₂, (IIIa), [(4R,5R)‐1,3‐bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonyl)­per­hydro‐1,3,2‐benzodi­aza­phosphol‐2‐yl]­di­methyl­amine, C₁₀H₁₆F₆N₃O₄PS₂, (IIIb), and bis­[(4R,5R)‐1,3‐bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonyl)­per­hydro‐1,3,2‐benzodi­aza­phosphol‐2‐yl]­methyl­amine, (IV), as the chloroform solvate, C₁₇H₂₃F₁₂N₅O₈P₂S₄·0.98CHCl₃, have been prepared from (1R,2R)‐N,N′‐bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonyl)‐1,2‐cyclo­hexane­di­amine and diethyl phosphor­amido­us dichloride, dimethyl phosphoramidous dichloride or methyl imidodi­phosphorus tetrachloride. The π‐acceptor abilities of these new types of ligands have been evaluated by X‐ray determination of the P—N bond lengths; it has been found that the most promising ligand is the bis­(phosphine) (IV).     

Sparfloxacin,an antibacterial drug

The title compound, sparfloxacin or cis‐5‐amino‐1‐cyclo­propyl‐7‐(3,5‐di­methyl­piperazin‐1‐yl)‐6,8‐difluoro‐1,4‐di­hydro‐4‐oxo­quinoline‐3‐carboxyl­ic acid trihydrate, C₁₉H₂₂F₂N₄O₃·3H₂O, is an antibacterial drug. The mol­ecule, which crystallizes as a trihydrate, is in the zwitterionic form in the solid state. Hydro­gen bonds stabilize the mol­ecules in the lattice.     

Three ginkgolide hydrates from Ginkgo biloba L.: ginkgolide A monohydrate,ginkgolide C sesquihydrate and ginkgolide J dihydrate,all determined at 120 K

A low‐temperature structure of ginkgolide A monohydrate, (1R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11aS)‐3‐(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐4,7b‐di­hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxymethano‐1H,6aH‐cyclo­penta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]­furo­[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclopenta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione monohydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₉·H₂O, obtained from Mo Kα data, is a factor of three more precise than the previous room‐temperature determination. A refinement of the ginkgolide A monohydrate structure with Cu Kα data has allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration of the series of compounds. Ginkgolide C sesquihydrate, (1S,2R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11S,11aR)‐3‐(1,1‐di­methyl­ethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐2,4,7b,11‐tetrahydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxy­methano‐1H,6aH‐cyclopenta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]­furo­[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclo­penta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione sesquihydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₁₁·1.5H₂O, has two independent diterpene mol­ecules, both of which exhibit intramolecular hydrogen bonding between OH groups. Ginkgolide J dihydrate, (1S,2R,3S,3aS,4R,6aR,7aR,7bR,8S,10aS,11aS)‐3‐(1,1‐di­methyl­ethyl)‐hexa­hydro‐2,4,7b‐tri­hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐9H‐1,7a‐epoxy­methano‐1H,6aH‐cyclo­penta­[c]­furo­[2,3‐b]furo[3′,2′:3,4]­cyclo­penta­[1,2‐d]­furan‐5,9,12(4H)‐trione dihydrate, C₂₀H₂₄O₁₀·2H₂O, has the same basic skeleton as the other ginkgolides, with its three OH groups having the same configurations as those in ginkgolide C. The conformations of the six five‐membered rings are quite similar across ­ginkgolides A–C and J, except for the A and F rings of ginkgolide A.     

Chiral and meso‐bis([2.2]­para­cyclo­phan‐4‐yl)­methane and meso‐bis­([2.2]­para­cyclo­phan‐4‐yl) sulfide

The [2.2]­para­cyclo­phane groups of the title compounds, chiral and meso‐bis­(tri­cyclo­[8.2.2.2^4,7]­hexa­deca‐4,6,10,12,13,15‐hexa­en‐5‐yl)­methane (the former as a racemate), C₃₃H₃₂, and meso‐bis­(tri­cyclo­[8.2.2.2^4,7]­hexa­deca‐4,6,10,12,13,15‐hexa­en‐5‐yl) sulfide, C₃₂H₃₀S, show the characteristic structural features of the parent compound [2.2]­para­cyclo­phane and the related compound di­methylbis([2.2]­para­cyclo­phan‐4‐yl)­silane, C₃₄­H₃₆­Si: the aromatic rings are puckered, resulting in a boat conformation. The planes of the four coplanar C atoms are slightly twisted with respect to each other. The Csp³—Csp³ bond lengths of the ethyl­ene bridges are elongated by the electronic and steric effects of the skeleton.     

Disappearance of intramolecular stacking due to one‐atom movement or increment of a `propyl­ene linker' in pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidine‐based ­flexible models

In the crystal structures of 4,6‐di­methyl­thio‐1‐[3‐(4,6‐di­methyl­thio‐2H‐pyra­zolo­[3,4‐d]­py­rimi­din‐2‐yl)­propyl]‐1H‐py­ra­­zolo­[3,4‐d]­py­rimi­dine, C₁₇H₂₀N₈S₄, and 1‐[4‐(4‐meth­oxy‐6‐methyl­thio‐1H‐pyra­zolo­[3,4‐d]py­rimi­din‐1‐yl)­butyl]‐5‐meth­yl‐6‐methyl­thio‐4,5‐di­hydro‐1H‐pyra­zolo­[3,4‐d]py­rimi­din‐4‐one, C₁₈H₂₂N₈O₂S₂, only intermolecular stacking due to aromatic π–π interactions between pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidinerings is present.     

Samaderin B and C from Samadera indica

Samaderin B, or (1R,2S,5R,5aR,7aS,11S,11aS,11bR,14S)‐1,7,7a,11,11a,11b‐hexa­hydro‐1,11‐di­hydroxy‐8,11a,14‐tri­methyl‐2H‐5a,2,5‐(methan­oxy­metheno)­naphth­[1,2‐d]­oxepine‐4,6,10(5H)‐trione, C₁₉H₂₂O₇, and samaderin C, or (1R,2S,5R,5aR,7aS,10S,11S,11aS,11bR,14S)‐7,7a,10,11,11a,11b‐hexa­hydro‐1,10,11‐tri­hydroxy‐8,11a,14‐tri­methyl‐2H‐5a,2,5‐(methan­oxy­metheno)­naphth­[1,2‐d]­oxepine‐4,6(1H,5H)‐dione, C₁₉H₂₄O₇, were isolated from the seed kernels of Samadera indica and were shown to exhibit antifeedant activity against Spodoptera litura third‐instar larvae. The replacement of the carbonyl group in samaderin B by a hydroxy group in samaderin C causes conformational changes at the substitution site, but the overall conformation is not affected; however, the compounds pack differently in the crystal lattice.     

N‐Meth­yl‐N‐(2‐nitro­phen­yl)nitramine and N‐meth­yl‐N‐(3‐nitro­phen­yl)­nitramine

The structures of the two title isomeric compounds (systematic names: N‐meth­yl‐N,2‐dinitro­aniline and N‐meth­yl‐N,3‐di­nitro­aniline, both C₇H₇N₃O₄) are slightly different because they exhibit different steric hindrances and hydrogen‐bonding environments. The aromatic rings are planar. The –N(Me)NO₂ and –NO₂ groups are not coplanar with the rings. Comparison of the geometric parameters of the ortho, meta and para isomers together with those of N‐meth­yl‐N‐phenyl­nitramine suggests that the position of the nitro group has a strong influence on the aromatic ring distortion. The crystal packing is stabilized by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to the nitramine group.     

Simvastatin

Simvastatin, or (1S,3R,7S,8S,8aR)‐8‐{2‐[(2R,4R)‐4‐hydroxy‐6‐oxo‐3,4,5,6‐tetra­hydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl]­ethyl}‐3,7‐di­methyl‐1,2,3,7,8,8a‐hexa­hydro­naphthalen‐1‐yl 2,2‐di­methyl­butan­oate, C₂₅H₃₈O₅, is almost isostructural with lovastatin, and the general conformational features are closely related to those of other reported crystal structures of statins. The only hydrogen bond present facilitates the formation of infinite chains of mol­ecules along the b axis.     

Two isomeric butadiene–N‐(acetoxy­phenyl)maleimide Diels–Alder adducts: supramolecular structure directed by C—H⋯X (X = O and π) hydrogen bonds and perpendicular dipole carbonyl–carbonyl inter­actions

The mol­ecular and supramolecular structures of 2‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexa­hydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)phenyl acetate, C₁₆‐H₁₅NO₄, (I), and its para isomer, 4‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3,3a,4,7,7a‐hexa­hydro‐1H‐isoindol‐2‐yl)phenyl acetate, (II), are reported. The torsion angle between the succinimide and benzene rings depends on the position of the acet­oxy substitution [89.7 (1) and 61.9 (1)° for (I) and (II), respectively]. The twist of the acet­oxy group relative to the mean plane of the benzene ring is almost independent of the acet­oxy position [66.0 (1) and 70.0 (1)°]. Packing inter­actions for both compounds include soft C—H⋯X (X = O and Ph) inter­actions, forming chains of centrosymmetric dimers and inter­linked chains for (I) and (II), respectively. In addition, three perpendicular dipole C=O⋯C=O inter­actions contribute to the supramolecular structure of (II).     

Supramolecular aggregation of two hydroxy­carboxylic acid derivatives

The crystal structures of 7,7‐dicyclo­but­yl‐5‐hydroxy­meth­yl‐6‐oxabicyclo­[3.2.1]octa­ne‐1‐carboxylic acid, C₁₇H₂₆O₄, (I), and 1‐(hydroxy­meth­yl)‐7‐oxaspiro­[bicyclo­[3.2.1]octa­ne‐6,1′‐cyclo­penta­ne]‐5‐carboxylic acid, C₁₃H₂₀O₄, (II), determined at 170 K, show that the conformation of the hydroxy­meth­yl group (anti or gauche) affects the dimensionality (one‐ or two‐dimensional) of the supramolecular structures via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In (I), the carbox­yl and hydroxy­meth­yl groups inter­act with themselves, forming a one‐dimensional step‐ladder, while in (II), a two‐dimensional structure is made up of carboxylic acid centrosymmetric R₂²(8) dimers connected by hydrox­yl‐to‐ether contacts.     

Moxifloxacinium chloride–water–methanol (2/1/1), a novel anti­bacterial agent

Moxifloxacin, a novel fluoro­quinolone with a broad spectrum of anti­bacterial activity, is available as the solvated monohydro­chloride salt 7‐[(S,S)‐2‐aza‐8‐azoniabicyclo­[4.3.0]non‐8‐yl]‐1‐cyclo­propyl‐6‐fluoro‐8‐meth­oxy‐4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydroquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid chloride–water–methanol (2/1/1), C₂₁H₂₅FN₃O₄⁺·Cl⁻·0.5H₂O·0.5CH₃OH. The asymmetric unit contains two cations, two chloride ions, a mol­ecule of water and one methanol mol­ecule. The two cations adopt conformations that differ by an almost 180° rotation with respect to the piperidinopyrrolidine side chain. The cyclo­propyl ring and the meth­oxy group are not coplanar with the quinoline ring system. The carboxylic acid function, the protonated terminal piperidyl N atom, the water mol­ecule, the chloride ion and the methanol mol­ecule participate in O—H⋯O, O—H⋯Cl, N—H⋯O and N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonding, linking the mol­ecules into extended two‐dimensional networks.     

Structural properties of a series of photochromic fluorinated indolylfulgides

Fluorinated indolyl­fulgides are a class of photochromic organic compounds that meet many of the requirements for use as optical memory media and optical switches. The X‐ray crystal structures of a series of five photochromic fluorinated indolyl­fulgides have been determined, namely (3Z)‐3‐[1‐(1,2‐di­methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2,2,2‐tri­fluoro­ethyl­idene]‐4‐(1‐methyl­ethyl­idene)­dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione (tri­fluoro­methyl­iso­propyl­idene­indolyl­fulgide), C₁₉H₁₆F₃NO₃, (I), (3Z)‐3‐[1‐(1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2,2,3,3,3‐penta­fluoro­propyl­idene]‐4‐(1‐methyl­ethyl­idene)­dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione (penta­fluoro­ethyl­iso­propyl­idene­indolyl­fulgide), C₂₀H₁₆F₅NO₃, (II), (3Z)‐3‐[1‐(1,2‐di­methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐hepta­fluoro­butyl­idene]‐4‐(1‐methyl­ethyl­idene)­dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione (hepta­fluoro­propyl­iso­propyl­idene­indolyl­fulgide), C₂₁H₁₆F₇NO₃, (III), (3Z)‐3‐[1‐(1,2‐di­methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2,2,2‐tri­fluoro­ethyl­idene]‐4‐(tri­cyclo­[3.3.1.1^3,7]­decyl­idene­)dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione (tri­fluoro­methyl­adamantyl­idene­indolyl­fulgide), C₂₆H₂₄F₃NO₃, (IV), and (3Z)‐3‐[1‐(1,2‐di­methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐hepta­fluoro­butyl­idene]‐4‐(tri­cyclo­[3.3.1.1^3,7]­decyl­idene­)dihydrofuran‐2,5‐dione (hepta­fluoro­propyl­adamantylidenein­dolyl­fulgide), C₂₈H₂₄F₇NO₃, (V). The photochromic property of fulgides is based on the photochemically allowed electrocyclic ring closure of a hexatriene system to form a cyclo­hexa­diene. For each fulgide examined, the bond lengths within the hexatriene system alternate between short and long, as expected. Comparing the structures of the five fulgides with each other demonstrates no significant difference in bond lengths, bond angles or dihedral angles within the hexatriene systems. The distance between the bond‐forming C atoms at each end of the hexatriene system does vary. Correlations of structural properties with optical properties are addressed.     

Chalcone epoxide inter­mediates in the syntheses of lignin‐related phenyl­coumarans

Compounds (2R*,3S*)‐1‐(3,4‐dimethoxy­phen­yl)‐3‐{3‐meth­oxy‐2‐[(2R*)‐tetra­hydro­pyran‐2‐yl­oxy]phen­yl}‐2,3‐ep­oxy‐1‐propanone, C₂₃H₂₆O₇, (I), and trans‐1‐(3,4‐dimethoxy­phen­yl)‐3‐[3‐meth­oxy‐2‐(methoxy­methoxy)­phen­yl]‐2,3‐ep­oxy‐1‐propanone, C₂₀H₂₂O₇, (II), were obtained on epoxidation of chalcones. The stereochemistries of (I) and (II) were elucidated. In both compounds, the substituents on the oxirane ring are trans‐oriented. Compound (I) was obtained together with a diastereometric form that differs from (I) with respect to the configuration of the asymmetric C atom in the tetra­hydro­pyran group. The geometries of the substituted oxirane rings of (I) and (II) are very similar. The hydrogen‐bonding patterns, mediated via weak C—H⋯O inter­actions, differ considerably. The crystal structures of (I) and (II) are compared with those of related chalcone epoxides. The conversion of (I) and (II) into lignin‐related phenyl­coumarans is discussed.     

Oxythiamine hexafluorophosphate monohydrate,a thiamine antagonist with the same conformation as ­thiamine

In the title compound, 3‐[(3,4‐di­hydro‐2‐methyl‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐5‐yl)­methyl]‐5‐(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)‐4‐methyl­thia­zolium hexa­fluoro­phosphate monohydrate, C₁₂H₁₆N₃O₂S⁺·PF₆^?·H₂O, oxy­thi­amine is a monovalent cation with a neutral oxo­pyrimidine ring. The mol­ecule assumes the F conformation, which is a common form for thi­amine but which is substantially different from the unusual V conformation found in the chloride and hydro­chloride salts of oxy­thi­amine. The anion‐bridging interaction, C—H?anion?pyrimidine, is emphasized as being important for stabilization of the F conformation.     

Four tri­fluoro­methyl­nitro­benzene analogues

The crystal structures of four tri­fluoro­methyl­nitro­benzene analogues (CF₃)C₆H₃(NO₂)[C₄H₈N₂]R (where C₄H₈N₂ is piperazinyl and R is ethyl carboxyl­ate, CO₂C₂H₅, or phenyl, C₆H₅), have been determined, and their conformations and packing arrangements are compared. The four compounds are ethyl 4‐[4‐nitro‐2‐(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl]­piperazine‐1‐car­boxyl­ate, (I), and ethyl 4‐[2‐nitro‐4‐(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phen­yl]piper­azine‐1‐carboxyl­ate, (II), both C₁₄H₁₆F₃N₃O₄, and 1‐­[4‐nitro‐2‐(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl]‐4‐phenyl­piperazine, (III), and 1‐[2‐nitro‐4‐(tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl]‐4‐phenyl­piperazine, (IV), both C₁₇H₁₆F₃N₃O₂. All mol­ecules adopt a rod‐like conformation, while the asymmetric units of (II) and (IV) contain two unique mol­ecules that pack as monodirectional pairs. All mol­ecules pack with C—H⋯O/F close contacts to all but one of the O atoms and to five of the 18 F atoms.     

2‐Acetamido‐N‐benz­yl‐2‐(methoxy­amino)acetamides: functionalized amino acid anticonvulsants

In the crystal structure of 2‐acetamido‐N‐benz­yl‐2‐(methoxy­amino)acetamide (3L), C₁₂H₁₇N₃O₃, the 2‐acetyl­amino­acetamide moiety has a linearly extended conformation, with an inter­planar angle between the two amide groups of 157.3 (1)°. In 2‐acetamido‐N‐benz­yl‐2‐[meth­oxy(meth­yl)­amino]­acetamide (3N), C₁₃H₁₉N₃O₃, the planes of the two amide groups inter­sect at an angle of 126.4 (4)°, resulting in a chain that is slightly more bent. The replacement of the methoxy­amino H atom of 3L with a methyl group to form 3N and concomitant loss of hydrogen bonding results in some positional/thermal disorder in the meth­oxy­(methyl)­amino group. In both structures, in addition to classical N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, there are also weak non‐standard C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bonds and packing inter­actions result in planar hydro­philic and hydro­phobic areas perpendicular to the c axis in 3L and parallel to the ab plane in the N‐meth­yl derivative. Stereochemical comparisons with phenytoin have identified two O atoms and a phenyl group as mol­ecular features likely to be responsible for the anticon­vulsant activities of these compounds.     

The sesquiterpenoid nootkatone and the absolute configuration of a di­bromo derivative

Nootkatone, or (4R,4aS,6R)‐4,4a,5,6,7,8‐hexa­hydro‐4,4a‐di­methyl‐6‐(1‐methyl­ethenyl)­naphthalen‐2(3H)‐one, C₁₅H₂₂O, a sesquiterpene with strong repellent properties against Formosan subterranean termites and other insects, has the valencene skeleton. The di­bromo derivative (1S,3R,4S,4aS,6R,8aR)‐1,3‐di­bromo‐6‐iso­propyl‐4,4a‐di­methyl‐1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8‐octa­hydro­naphthalen‐2‐one, C₁₅H₂₄Br₂O, has two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, which differ in the rotation of the iso­propyl group with respect to the main skeleton. The C—Br distances are in the range 1.950 (4)–1.960 (4) Å. Both independent molecules form zigzag chains, with very short intermolecular carbonyl–carbonyl interactions, having the perpendicular motif and O⋯C distances of 2.886 (6) and 2.898 (6) Å. These chains are flanked by intermolecular Br⋯Br interactions of distances in the range 4.067 (1)–4.218 (1) Å. The absolute configuration of the di­bromo derivative was determined, from which that of nootkatone was inferred.     

Trifluoro­meth­yl derivatives of penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undeca­ne

Three cage‐like polycyclic compounds, viz.exo‐8‐(trifluoro­meth­yl)­penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecan‐endo‐8‐ol, C₁₂H₁₃F₃O, 5‐(trifluoro­meth­yl)‐4‐oxahexa­cyclo­[5.4.1.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9.0^8,11]­dodecan‐3‐ol, C₁₂H₁₁F₃O₂, and N‐[exo‐11‐(trifluoro­meth­yl)‐endo‐11‐(trimethyl­sil­yl­oxy)­penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecan‐8‐yl­idene]aniline meth­anol solvate, C₂₁H₂₄F₃NOSi·CH₄O, were obtained from the corresponding oxo derivatives by nucleophilic trifluoro­methyl­ation with (tri­fluorometh­yl)trimethyl­silane in 1,2‐dimethoxy­ethane solution in the presence of CsF. The crystal structures show that the addition of trifluoro­methanide occurs exclusively from the exo face of the polycyclic ketones. Further examination of the crystal structures, together with that of the starting penta­cyclo­[5.4.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecane‐8,11‐dione, C₁₁H₁₀O₂, showed that increasing substitution at the 8‐ and/or 11‐positions in the cage mol­ecules increases the non‐bonded intra­molecular C·C distances at the mouth of the cage and changes the puckering of the five‐membered rings involving the 8‐ and 11‐positions from an envelope towards a distorted half‐chair conformation. Inter­molecular co‐operative O—H·O hydrogen bonds in the endo‐8‐ol compound link the mol­ecules into tetra­mers.