Vibrational spectroscopy as a direct stereochemical probe for polyhydroxylated molecules.

A simple IR and VCD spectra-structure relationship is proposed for the determination of the relative and absolute configurations of polyhydroxylated molecules using a series of styryl-pyrones as model compounds. Spectral signatures identified for free molecules and acetonide derivatives may be used for stereochemical assignments of related molecules without the aid of quantum-chemical calculations.