The keto-enol tautomerism and stereochemistry study of a HIV-inhibitory natural benzophenone, (1R,5R,7R,8S)-(+)-3-(10-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-10-hydroxymethylene)-8-methyl -1,5,7-tris(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,4,9-trione (a), isolated from Garcinia brasiliensis seeds is presented. The crystal structure of (a), which is also know as guttiferona A, was determined by X-ray diffraction and its intra and inter-molecular geometries discussed and compared with two analogue natural benzophenones: clusianone and epiclusianone. In (a), the hydroxyl H atom from enolizable 2,4,10-trione moiety is linked in the oxygen atom bonded to 10-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene group, in opposition to the related natural benzophenones, where this analogue H-atom is placed in different O-atoms from bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ring system. Such behaviour can be explained by the presence of aromatic OH6 group in (a) that origins a further delocalized resonance path along of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-C10-OH2 group. In addition, the (a) stereochemistry around C7 atom is compared with known structures of clusianone and epiclusianone and the influence from configuration in this chiral C-atom to structural features found in the enolizable system is proposed.
guttiferone A; keto-enol tautomerism; benzophenone; X-ray diffraction; stereochemistry
