Chiral γ-butyrolactones related to optically active 2-hydroxycitric acids

The complete spectroscopic data and other physical constants of two naturally occuring, diastereomeric, optically active γ-lactones derived from inexpensive 2-hydroxycitric acids, namely garcinia acid [(2S,3S)-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-5-oxo-2,3-furandicarboxylic acid] and hibiscus acid [(2S,3R)-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-5-oxo-2,3-furandicarboxylic acid] and related derivatives have been described for the first time.