(1S)-1,2-O-Benzyl-idene-α-d-glucurono-6,3-lactone.

X-ray crystallographic analysis has established that the major product from the protection of d-glucoronolactone with benzaldehyde is (1S)-1,2-O-benzyl-idene-α-d-glucurono-6,3-lactone, C(13)H(12)O(6), rather than the R epimer. The crystal structure exists as O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded chains of mol-ecules lying parallel to the a axis. The absolute configuration was determined by the use of d-glucuronolactone as the starting material.