Application of NMR spectroscopy for assignment of the absolute configuration of 8-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methyl-9-oxa-6-azaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-10-one.

In order to assign the absolute configurations of 8-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methyl-9-oxa-6-azaspiro[4.5]dec-6-en-10-one (2a,b), their esters (5a-d) with (R)- or (S)-2-methoxyphenylacetic acid (4a,b) have been synthesized. The absolute configurations of these compounds have been determined on the basis of NOESY correlations between the protons of the tert-butyl group and the cyclopentane fragment of the molecules. The crucial part of this analysis was assignment of the absolute configuration at C-5. Additionally, by calculation of the chemical shift anisotropy, δ(RS), for the relevant protons, it was also possible to confirm the absolute configurations at the C-2 centres of compounds 2a,b and 5a-d.