Chiral crystals from an achiral molecule: 4,6-di-O-benzyl-1,3-O-benzylidene-2-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)-myo-5-inosose

Abstract

The title achiral compound, C35H34O7, crystallizes in the chiral monoclinic space groupP21. The molecules are densely packed to form a helical assembly along the crystallographic twofold screw axisviaC—H...O and C—H...π interactions. Interestingly, the unit-translated helical chains are loosely connectedviaa rather uncommon edge-to-edge Ph—H...H—Ph short contact (H...H = 2.33 Å).