Structure, absolute configuration, and conformation of the antimalarial drug artesunate

The crystal and molecular structure of the antimalarial compound artesunate has been determined by direct methods. Crystals are orthorhombic, P212121, a= 9.8371(12), b= 10.517(2), c= 18.7594(5) Å, Z= 4, Dc= 1.316 mg/mL. The molecule is comprised of a fused ring system containing a six-membered ring C which includes an oxygen bridge and a peroxy bridge. The 9-atom oxygen–carbon chain from O(5)—C(12)... to ... O(2)—C(6) displays a striking sequence of short, long, short, long ... bonds while these distances are all within the ranges of a normal single bond or partial double bond. It is proposed that this pattern is caused by the delocalization of the lone pair electrons on the oxygen atoms. The ring C has a distorted boat conformation and the C—O—O—C torsion angle is 46.3(2)°. Rings A and D have ideal chair conformations. Ring junctions A/B and A/D are cis junctions, B/D and C/D are trans. Packing of the molecules is stabilized by one strong hydrogen bond involving the hydroxyl group on the ester linkage and the oxygen atom of the lactone ring.