In the NMR spectra of compounds Ia and Ib, a narrow singlet was observed in the 11.47 ppm region (Ia) and the 11.49 ppm region (Ib) for a hydroxyl group (the 6-OH) which is involved in the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the CO fragment of the neighboring ester group (the 1-COOCH3)[1, 3, 4]. The marked high-field shift of the 2-COOCH 3 group as compared with the second ester group (1-COOCH3)(A6COOCH3 3.87-3.61= 0.36 ppm (Ia ...