Acyclic 1,2-/1,3-mixed pentols. Synthesis and general trends in bichromophoric exciton coupled circular dichroic spectra

The synthesis of all eight configurational isomers of acyclic 1,2,3,4,6-pentols belonging to the 2R enantiomeric series is described. The 1-anthroyl-2,3,4,6-p-methoxycinnamates of these pentols give rise to unique exciton coupled circular dichroic spectra in the range of 220–380 nm. Comparisons with the CD of corresponding bichromophoric derivatives of the lower homologous tetrols, 1-anthroyl-2,3,4-p-methoxycinnamates led to a predictable general trend in which only minor differences result from 1,3-syn extensions whereas major differences result from 1,3-anti extensions.