The absolute configurations of two diastereoisomers, (2S, ycarbonyl-5-
[(2S)-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-proline tert-butyl ester (PTBEA, C25H31
NO5) and ycarbonyl-5-[(2R)-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl]-2-proline tert-butyl
ester (PTBEB, C25H31NO5), have been established by X-ray analysis. Pa
rtial disorder of the two methylene groups of the proline ring was obs
erved in the structure of PTBEA. In both structures, the crystal packi
ng is controlled by an O-H...O hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl and
carbonyl groups of the benzyloxycarbonyl moiety.