An attempt to determine the absolute configuration of two ascolactone stereoisomers with time‐dependent density functional theory

Two stereoisomers of ascolactone (A, B), natural products with two asymmetric carbon atoms, are isolated from the marine-derived fungus Ascochyta salicorniae. Although these compounds show virtually opposite CD spectra and [alpha]D, 1H- and 13C-NMR data exclude the presence of enantiomers and suggest ascolactone A and B to be epimeric lactones. By comparing the experimental CD spectra with those calculated employing time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), we elucidate the configuration at one of the asymmetric carbon atoms.