Deposition of crystalline triclinic (t) and monoclinic (m) calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) in fibrocartilage and articular cartilage is the hallmark of chondrocalcinosis. Using biologic grade gelatin to model this crystal growth process, t-CPPD, m-CPPD, amorphous calcium pyrophosphate, orthorhombic calcium pyrophosphate tetrahydrate (o-CPPT), and 3 mixed calcium/sodium pyrophosphate salts were grown at physiologic pH. Amorphous and o-CPPT appeared to be kinetic precursor crystals in the formation of t-CPPD and m-CPPD. Optimal concentration ranges for the different crystals were determined.

The title compound is C16H20O5, MW=292.3, orthorhombic,P212121,a=9.741(2),b=29.391(7),c=5.354(1) Å from diffractometer measurements,V=1532.8 Å3,Z=4,D c =1.267 g cm−3,D o =1.271 g cm−3 (ether/1,1,2,2-tetrabromoethane), λ(Mo Kα)=0.71069 Å,F(000)=624,μ=1.02 cm−1, crystal dimensions 0.23×0.23×0.40 mm,R=0.049 for 1164 observed reflections. The molecule contains a possibly significant asymmetric ether linkage between the oxacyclohexane ring and the highly anisotropic benzyl ring. The packing consists of zigzagged chains parallel to thea-axis formed by hydrogen bonds. The chains are separated by van der Waals contacts.