Epimerization of erythromycin derivatives.

Dirithromycin (3) isomerizes upon dissolution in different solvents. From X-ray analysis of V-T 108, an analogue of dirithromycin, and comparative 1H and 13C NMR, and MS data, the isomer of dirithromycin was confirmed to be the C-16-(S)-epimer. The ratio of the two epimers at equilibrium conditions was approximately 8:2 (R/S) in methanol at room temperature.