Synthesis and crystal structures of two structurally related kryptoracemates.

Kryptoracemates are racemic compounds (pairs of enantiomers) that crystallize in Sohnke space groups (space groups that contain neither inversion centres nor mirror or glide planes nor rotoinversion axes). Thus, the two symmetry-independent molecules cannot be transformed into one another by any symmetry element present in the crystal structure. Usually, the conformation of the two enantiomers is rather similar if not identical. Sometimes, the two enantiomers are related by a pseudosymmetry element, which is often a pseudocentre of inversion, because inversion symmetry is thought to be favourable for crystal packing. We obtained crystals of two kryptoracemates of two very similar compounds differing in just one residue, namely rac-N-[(1S,2R,3S)-2-methyl-3-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-1-phenyl-3-(pivalamido)propyl]benzamide, C27 H32 N2 O3 , (I), and rac-N-[(1S,2S,3R)-2-methyl-3-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-1-phenyl-3-(propionamido)propyl]benzamide dichloromethane hemisolvate, C25 H28 N2 O3 ·0.5CH2 Cl2 , (II). The crystals of both compounds contain both enantiomers of these chiral molecules. However, since the space groups [P21 21 21 for (I) and P1 for (II)] contain neither inversion centres nor mirror or glide planes nor rotoinversion axes, there are both enantiomers in the asymmetric unit, which is a rather uncommon phenomenon. In addition, it is remarkable that (II) contains two pairs of enantiomers in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, molecules are connected by intermolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds to form chains or layered structures.