(R)-5-[(1R,2R)-1-ethyl-2-(4-oxocyclohexyl)butyl]oxepan-2-one, an enantiopure 'pseudosteroid'

The title compound C(18)gH(30)O(3) represents an optically pure member of a class of 'pseudosteroids', i.e. perhydrostilbene derivatives which mimic steroidal androgens (in the way like hexestrols or stilbestrols serve to substitute natural estrogens). The molecule 2 is characterized by three consecutive chiral centers leading to eight possible stereoisomers including four diastereomers. All enantiomers have been separated and their biological profile has been determined. As the result of the crystal structure presented here the two symmetry independent molecules display the configuration R,R,R at the centers of chirality.