Ribitol crystal structure

Ribitol 5 is a completely eryf/tro-configured pentitol. No crystal structure analyses of a ribitol complex have been reported so far. However, solution studies have been performed with pal-ladium(II) and with molybdenum(VI) and tungsten(VI). 

The configurations of a series of 2- and 5-substituted derivatives of 1,4 3,6-dianhydro-hexitols (4) have been established from their C n.m.r. spectra. Crystal structure measurements have shown thatl,5-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-0-benzoyl-xylitol and -ribitol both adopt the expected Ci(d) conformation, whereas l,2,3,4-tetra-0-benzoyl-/3-D-xylopyranoside adopts the alternative C4 form, emphasizing the importance of the anomeric effect in the latter case. Unsaturated alditol derivatives are mentioned in Chapter 12. 

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