Vibrational circular dichroism study for natural bioactive schizandrin and reassignment of its absolute configuration

Bioactive natural product (+)-schizandrin was assigned as (7S,8S) using NMR. Recently, we obtained (+)schizandrin from TCM Schisandra sphenanthera Rehd. et Wils. Its planar structure was well established using NMR and HR-MS including the reported references. Its absolute configuration is assigned using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). By careful VCD investigation of (75,8S) and (75,8R) using B3LYP/6-311+G(d) methods, absolute configuration of (+)-schizandrin is assigned as (7S,8R). Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) was used for the discussion too and it gave the same conclusion. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.