Access to Enantiomeric Organic Compounds with Potential for Synthesis via Racemic Conglomerates: Inositol Derivatives as a Case in Point

Abstract

The crystal structure database was used to identify inositol derivatives that could be crystallizing as racemic conglomerates. Among the six racemic inositol derivatives identified, racemic 4-O-tosyl-6-O-benzyl-myo-inositol-1,3,5-orthoformate (A) was found to be a true conglomerate and was resolved on the multigram scale by the preferential crystallization technique. This resolution procedure does not require the use of any enantiomeric resolving agent. The resolved enantiomers of A are useful for the synthesis of natural and unnatural enantiomeric derivatives of inositol, since they carry orthogonal hydroxy protecting groups. Racemic 4-O-methanesulfonyl-myo-inositol-1,3,5-orthoformate (B) on crystallization from common organic solvents generally yielded racemic twin crystals, while in the presence of structural analogs as additives, they yielded true racemic crystals. A comparison of the crystal structures of the true racemate, twinned crystal and crystal of one of the enantiomers of B, revealed the reasons for the formation of polymorphic (twin) crystals. Such instances are relatively rarely encountered but nevertheless shed light on our understanding of polymorphism and twinning of crystals.