Threefold helical assembly via hydroxy hydrogen bonds: the 2:1 co-crystal of bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-endo-3,endo-7-diol and bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-endo-3,exo-7-diol

Abstract

Reduction of bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3,7-dione yields a mixture of the endo-3,endo-7-diol and endo-3, exo-7-diol (C8H14O2) isomers (5 and 6). These form (5)2·(6) co-crystals in the monoclinic P21/n space group (with Z = 6, Z′ = 1.5) rather than undergoing separation by means of fractional recrystallization or column chromatography. The molecule of 5 occupies a general position, whereas the molecule of 6 is disordered over two orientations across a centre of symmetry with occupancies of 0.463 (2) and 0.037 (2). Individual diol hydroxy groups associate around a pseudo-threefold screw axis by means of hydrogen bonding. The second hydroxy group of each diol behaves in a similar manner, generating a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network structure. This hydrogen-bond connectivity is identical to that present in three known helical tubuland diol–hydroquinone co-crystals, and the new crystal structure is even more similar to two homologous aliphatic diol co-crystals.

Keywords

• co-crystal
• failure of fractional recrystallization
• crystal structure
• hydrogen-bonded complex
• isomers
• complementarity
• pseudo-threefold screw axis.