Patent ID: 6992078

Claim:
A compound having the formula: wherein: R 1 is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and α(S)-methyl-γ(S)-butyroylactonyl; R 2 is a member selected from the group consisting of β-oriented hydrogen and α-oriented hydrogen; R 3 is a member selected from the group consisting of β-oriented hydrogen and α-oriented hydrogen; R 4 is hydroxyl; R 5 is a member selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethyl and carboxyl; and R 6 is a member selected from the group consisting of β-oriented hydrogen and α-oriented hydrogen; or alternatively, R 2 is an α-oriented hydrogen, and R 4 and R 5 together with the carbons to which they are attached, join to form a substituted γ(S)-butyroylactonyl or substituted furane ring; or alternatively, R 1 is hydrogen, and R 4 and R 5 together with the carbons to which they are attached, join to form a substituted γ(S)-butyroylactonyl or substituted ring; or alternatively, R 4 and R 5 together with the carbons to which they are attached, join to form a substituted γ(S)-butyroylactonyl, and R 2 and R 6 are both absent and form a pyrrole ring, provided however that when R 1 is α(S)-methyl-γ(R)-butyroylactonyl, R 3 is an α-oriented hydrogen.