Preparation Crystal Structure of (1S, 5S, 7S, 8R)-8-Hydroxy-7-phenyl-2,6-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-one

The absolute configuration at two newly formed stereogenic centres (5S, 7S) during the key steps of the total synthesis of naturally occuring goniothalesdiol was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis relative to stereocentres (1S, 8R) of the title compound (alternatively named 3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-6-phenyl-l-ido-1,4-hexonolactone, C(12)H(12)O(4)). The conformation of both 5-membered lactone and furanose fused rings is also discussed.