Potassium (1R,4R,5S,8S)-4,5,8-trihy­droxy-3-oxo-2,6-dioxabicyclo­[3.3.0]octane-4-sulfonate dihydrate

The title salt, K⁺·C₆H₇O₉S^-·2H₂O, formed by reaction of dehydro-L-ascorbic acid with potassium hydrogen sulfite in water, crystallizes as colourless plates. The potassium ion is coordinated by eight O atoms arising from hy­droxy or sulfonate groups. The sulfonate group is bonded to the C atom neighbouring that of the lactone carbonyl group. As is commonly observed in crystalline L-ascorbic acid derivatives, the O atom of the primary hy­droxy group is linked to the second C atom from the lactone C atom, forming a hemi-acetal function, thereby creating a bicyclic system of two fused five-membered rings, both of which have envelope conformations with one of the shared C atoms as the flap. Addition of the sulfur nucleophile occurs from the less hindered face. One of the two independent lattice water mol­ecules has hydrogen bonds to sulfonate O atoms of two different anions and is the acceptor of bonds from hy­droxy groups of two further anions; the second lattice water mol­ecule donates to the carbonyl and a hy­droxy O atom in different anions, and accepts from a hy­droxy O atom in a further anion. Thus, through K-O coordination and hydrogen bonds, the potassium cations, sulfonate anions and water mol­ecules are linked in a three-dimensional network.

(4S,5S)-2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-dicarbo­nitrile

The title compound, C₇H₈N₂O₂, formed by dehydration of the corresponding dicarboxamide, crystallizes as rectangular prisms. The mol­ecules have a C₂ axis of symmetry through the C atom bearing the methyl groups and the mid-point of the ring C—C bond, and the 1,3-dioxolane ring adopts the extreme twist conformation of the two possible with this symmetry. This brings the two nitrile groups nearest to a linear arrangement when the mol­ecule is viewed along the ring C—C bond. The correct absolute configuration of the mol­ecule was defined by that of the original starting material, (2R,3R)-tartaric acid. The packing is largely controlled by a number of C—H...N interactions.