Revisiting NMR through-space J(FF) spin-spin coupling constants for getting insight into proximate F---F interactions.

At present times it is usual practice to mark biological compounds replacing an H for an F atom to study, by means of (19)F NMR spectroscopy, aspects such as binding sites and molecular folding features. This interesting methodology could nicely be improved if it is known how proximity interactions on the F atom affect its electronic structure as gauged through high-resolution (19)F NMR spectroscopy. This is the main aim of the present work and, to this end, differently substituted peri-difluoronaphthalenes are chosen as model systems. In such compounds are rationalized some interesting aspects of the diamagnetic and paramagnetic parts of the (19)F nuclear magnetic shielding tensor as well as the transmission mechanisms for the PSO and FC contributions to (4)JF1F8 indirect nuclear spin-spin coupling constants.

Unusual through-space, TS, pathway for the transmission of J(FHf) coupling: 2-fluorobenzaldehyde study case.

The (1)H NMR spectra of the title compound in nonpolar and polar solvents and theoretical calculation of spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) show that (TS)J(FHf) SSCC, where TS stands for "through-space", in polar solvents is amenable to measurement only in the trans conformer. The mechanisms for transmission pathways to such unusual SSCCs are rationalized in terms of the molecular electronic structure. It is stressed that such a result calls for some caution when intending to use (TS)J(FH) as a probe to detect the spatial proximity between fluorine and hydrogen atoms.

The electronic origin of unusually large (n)J(FN) coupling constants in some fluoroximes.

SOPPA(CCSD) calculations show that the FC term is the most important contribution to the through-space transmission of JFN coupling constants for the fluoroximes studied in this work. Because of the well-known behavior of FC term, a new rationalization for the experimental (TS)JFN SSCC is presented. It is mainly based on the overlap matrix (Sij) between fluorine and nitrogen lone pairs obtained from NBO analyses. An expression is proposed to take into account the influence of the electronic density (Dij) between coupled nuclei as well as the s% character at the site of the coupling nuclei of bonds and non-bonding electron pairs involved in Dij. In using this approach, a linear correlation between (TS)JFN versus Dij is obtained. The most important aspect of this rationalization is related to the facility for understanding the behavior of some unusual experimental coupling constants. It is shown that, at least in this case, the electronic origin of the so-called through-space coupling is transmitted through to the overlap of orbitals on the coupled atoms, suggesting that, at least for these compounds, instead of through-space coupling, it should better be dubbed as 'through overlapping orbital coupling'.

Unexpected geometrical effects on paramagnetic spin-orbit and spin-dipolar 2J(FF) couplings.

The second-rank tensor character of the paramagnetic spin-orbit and spin-dipolar contributions to nuclear spin-spin coupling constants is usually ignored when NMR measurements are carried out in the isotropic phase. However, in this study it is shown that isotropic (2)J(FF) couplings strongly depend on the relative orientation of the C-F bonds containing the coupling nuclei and the eigenvectors of such tensors. Predictions about such effect are obtained using a qualitative approach based on the polarization propagator formalism at the RPA, and results are corroborated performing high-level ab initio spin-spin coupling calculations at the SOPPA(CCSD)/EPR-III//MP2/EPR-III level in a model system. It is highlighted that no calculations at the RPA level were carried out in this work. The quite promising results reported in this paper suggest that similar properties are expected to hold for the second-rank nuclear magnetic shielding tensor.

1hJFH coupling in 2-fluorophenol revisited: is intramolecular hydrogen bond responsible for this long-range coupling?

The present study shows that a hydrogen bond between the OH group and the fluorine atom is not involved in the (1h)J(FH) spin-spin coupling transmission either for 4-bromo-2-fluorophenol or 2-fluorophenol. In fact, according to a quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis, no bond critical point is found between O-H and F moieties. The nature of the transmission mechanism of the Fermi contact term of the (1h)J(FH) spin-spin coupling is studied by analyzing canonical molecular orbitals (see J. Phys. Chem. A 2010, 114, 1044), and it is observed that virtual orbitals play only a quite minor role in its transmission. This is typical of a Fermi contact term transmitted mainly through exchange interactions owing to the overlap of proximate electronic clouds; therefore, it is suggested to identify them as (nTS)J(FH) coupling where n stands for the number of formal bonds separating the coupling nuclei. In the cases studied in this work is n = 4. Results presented in this work could provide an interesting rationalization for different experimental signs known in the current literature for proximate J(FH) couplings.

Stereochemical dependence of 3JCH coupling constants in 2-substituted 4-t-butyl-cyclohexanone and their alcohol derivatives.

Theoretical and experimental studies on (3)J(C2H6eq) NMR spin-spin coupling constants in both the 2-X-4-t-butyl-cyclohexanone (X = H, CH(3), F, Cl, and Br) and in their alcohol derivatives series are reported. Results thus found are rationalized in terms of the transmission of the Fermi contact contribution to such couplings. To this end, dependencies of (3)J(C2H6eq) couplings versus the C(2)-C(1)-C(6) angle are compared in both series for equatorial and axial X orientations. The main trend is described in terms of the rear lobes interaction. Besides, for X = halogen atom in equatorial orientation a rather strong interaction between oxygen and halogen lone pairs is observed, and its influence on (3)J(C2H6eq) couplings is discussed and rationalized in terms of different Fermi contact transmission pathways.

Effect of electronic interactions on NMR 1J(CF) and 2J(CF) couplings in cis- and trans-4-t-butyl-2-fluorocyclohexanones and their alcohol derivatives.

In order to study the influence of hyperconjugative, inductive, steric, and hydrogen-bond interactions on (1)J(CF) and (2)J(CF) NMR spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs), they were measured in cis- and trans-4-t-butyl-2-fluorocyclohexanones and their alcohol derivatives. The four isotropic terms of those SSCCs, Fermi contact (FC), spin dipolar (SD), paramagnetic spin-orbit (PSO), and diamagnetic spin-orbit (DSO), were calculated at the SOPPA(CCSD)/EPR-III level. Significant changes in FC and PSO terms along that series of compounds were rationalized in terms of their transmission mechanisms by employing a qualitative analysis of their expressions in terms of the polarization propagator formalism. The PSO term is found to be sensitive to proximate interactions like steric compression and hydrogen bonding; we describe how it could be used to gauge such interactions. The FC term of (2)J(CF) SSCC in cis-4-t-butyl-2-fluorocyclohexanone is rationalized as transmitted in part by the superposition of the F and O electronic clouds.

Experimental, SOPPA(CCSD), and DFT analysis of substitutent effects on NMR 1JCF coupling constants in fluorobenzene derivatives.

Interesting insight into the electronic molecular structure changes associated with substituent effects on the Fermi contact (FC) and paramagnetic spin-orbit (PSO) terms of (1)J(CF) NMR coupling constants (SSCCs) in o-X-, m-X-, and p-X-fluorobenzenes (X = NH(2); NO(2)) is presented. The formulation of this approach is based on the influence of different conjugative and hyperconjugative interactions on a second-order property, which can be qualitatively predicted if it is known how they affect the main virtual excitations entering into that second-order property. A set of consistent approximations are introduced in order to analyze the behavior of occupied and virtual orbitals, which define some experimental trends for (1)J(CF) spin-spin coupling constants. In addition, DFT hybrid functionals were used, and a similar degree of confidence to compute the (1)J(CF) with those observed for the SOPPA(CCSD) method was obtained. The (1)J(CF) SSCCs for ezetimibe, a commercially fluorinated drug used to reduce cholesterol levels, were measured and DFT-calculated, and the qualitative approach quoted above was applied. As a byproduct, a possible method to determine experimentally a significant PSO contribution to (1)J(CF) SSCCs is discussed.

19F chemical shifts, coupling constants and conformational preferences in monosubstituted perfluoroparacyclophanes.

In the process of studying the chemistry of perfluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes (PFPCs), a novel class of compounds, it became necessary to identify some disubstituted products. To achieve this goal, we characterize in this work some monosubstituted PFPCs, identifying their (19)F-(19) F coupling patterns, and establishing a methodology for the assignment of their (19)F chemical shifts. The pattern of coupling constants indicates a skewed geometry in which the upper deck moves towards or away from the substituent, depending on the substituent electron-donor character and size. Quantum chemical calculations, performed at the HF/6-311 + G(d,p)//B3LYP/EPR-III level of theory, confirmed the conformations inferred from coupling constants and reproduced well the values of the couplings. Transmission mechanisms for the FC term of four- and five-bond (19)F-(19) F couplings are discussed in detail. Understanding the conformational preferences of PFPCs and how they are reflected by the coupling constants facilitates the assignment of (19)F chemical shifts in monosubstituted PFPCs and the identification of the disubstituted products.

Difference between ²JC2H3 and ²JC3H2 spin-spin couplings in heterocyclic five- and six-membered rings as a probe for studying σ-ring currents: a quantum chemical analysis.

Adequate analyses of canonical molecular orbitals (CMOs) can provide rather detailed information on the importance of different σ-Fermi contact (FC) coupling pathways (FC term transmitted through the σ-skeleton). Knowledge of the spatial distribution of CMOs is obtained by expanding them in terms of natural bond orbitals (NBOs). Their relative importance for transmitting the σ-FC contribution to a given spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) is estimated by resorting to the expression of the FC term given by the polarisation propagator formalism. In this way, it is possible to classify the effects affecting such couplings in two different ways: delocalisation interactions taking place in the neighbourhood of the coupling nuclei and 'round the ring' effects. The latter, associated with σ-ring currents, are observed to yield significant differences between the FC terms of (2)J(C2H3) and (2)J(C3H2) SSCCs which, consequently, are taken as probes to gauge the differences in σ-ring currents for the five-membered rings (furan, thiophene, selenophene and pyrrol) and also for the six-membered rings (benzene, pyridine, protonated pyridine and N-oxide pyridine) used in the present study.

Analysis of canonical molecular orbitals to identify fermi contact coupling pathways. 1. Through-space transmission by overlap of (31)P lone pairs.

In this work, a new approach to studying coupling pathways for the Fermi contact term of NMR spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) is presented. It is based on the known form of propagating the Fermi hole through a canonical molecular orbital (CMO). It requires having an adequate spatial description of the relevant canonical molecular orbitals, which are obtained by expanding CMOs in terms of natural bond orbitals (NBOs). For detecting the relevant contributions of CMOs to a given Fermi contact (FC) pathway, the description of the FC in terms of the triplet polarization propagator (PP) is used. To appreciate the potential of this approach, dubbed FCCP-CMO (Fermi contact coupling pathways-CMO), it is applied to analyze the through-space transmission of the FC term of J(PP) SSCCs by overlap of the P lone pairs. This method can be applied using well-known quantum chemistry software without any further modification, which makes it appealing for use as a complement to SSCC measurements by NMR spectroscopy.

Qualitative study of substituent effects on NMR (15)N and (17)O chemical shifts.

A qualitative approach to analyze the electronic origin of substituent effects on the paramagnetic part of chemical shifts is described and applied to few model systems, where its potentiality can be appreciated. The formulation of this approach is based on the following grounds. The influence of different inter- or intramolecular interactions on a second-order property can be qualitatively predicted if it can be known how they affect the main virtual excitations entering into that second-order property. A set of consistent approximations are introduced in order to analyze the behavior of occupied and virtual orbitals that define some experimental trends of magnetic shielding constants. This approach is applied first to study the electronic origin of methyl-beta substituent effects on both (15)N and (17)O chemical shifts, and afterward it is applied to a couple of examples of long-range substituent effects originated in charge transfer interactions such as the conjugative effect in aromatic compounds and sigma-hyperconjugative interactions in saturated multicyclic compounds.

Effect of sulfur oxidation on the transmission mechanism of 4J(HH) NMR coupling constants in 1,3-dithiane.

Long-range 4J(HH) couplings in 1,3-dithiane derivatives are rationalized in terms of the effects of hyperconjugative interactions involving the S=O group. Theoretical and experimental studies of 4J(HH) couplings were carried out in 1,3-dithiane-1-oxide (2), cis-1,3-dithiane-1,3-dioxide (3), 1,3-dithiane-1,1,3-trioxide (4), and 1,3-dithiane-1,1,3,3-tetraoxide (5) compounds. Hyperconjugative interactions were studied with the natural bond orbital, NBO, method. Hyperconjugative interactions involving the LP(O), oxygen lone pair and sigma*(C2-S1) and sigma*(S1-C6) antibonding orbitals yield an increase of 4J(H(eq)-H(eq)) couplings. Long-range 4J(H(ax)-H(ax)) couplings were also observed between hydrogen atoms in axial orientation, which are rationalized as originating in hyperconjugative interactions involving the bonding sigma(C6-H(ax)) and antibonding sigma*(S=O) orbitals. The symmetry for orbital interactions is possible only when the S=O group is in the axial orientation.

Stereochemical dependence of NMR geminal spin-spin coupling constants.

In this work it was sought to explore the versatility of geminal spin-spin coupling constants, (2)J(XY) SSCCs, as probes for stereochemical studies. A set of compounds, where their experimental (2)J(XY) SSCCs through the X-C-Y molecular fragment are predicted to be sensitive to hyperconjugative interactions involving either bonding or antibonding orbitals containing the C carbon atom ('coupling pathway'), were analyzed. SSCC calculations were performed for some selected examples using the second order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) method or within the DFT-B3LYP framework. Hyperconjugative interactions were calculated within the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) approach. Results are condensed in two qualitative rules: Rule I(M)-hyperconjugative interactions transferring charge into the coupling pathway yield a positive increase to the Fermi contact (FC), contribution to (2)K(XY) reduced spin-spin coupling constants (RSSCC), and Rule II(M)-hyperconjugative interactions transferring charge from the coupling pathway yield a negative increase to the FC contribution to (2)K(XY) RSSCC.

Heavy Halogen Atom Effect on (13)C NMR Chemical Shifts in Monohalo Derivatives of Cyclohexane and Pyran. Experimental and Theoretical Study.

As a first step, a qualitative analysis of the spin-orbit operator was performed to predict the kind of organic compounds, where it could be expected that the SO/FC (spin-orbit/Fermi contact) and SO/SD (spin-orbit/spin dipolar) yield unusually small contributions to the "heavy atom effect" on (13)C SCSs (substituent chemical shifts). This analysis led to the conclusion that compounds presenting strong hyperconjugative interactions involving the σ*C-X orbital (X = halogen) are good examples where such effects can be expected to take place. On the basis of such results, the following set of model compounds was chosen: 2-eq-halocyclohexane (2-eq), 2-ax-halocyclohexane (2-ax), and 2-ax-halopyran (3), to measure (13)C SCSs. Such experimental values, as well as those of methane and halomethanes taken from the literature, were compared to calculated values at a nonrelativistic approach using B3LYP, and at a relativistic approach with BP86 using scalar ZORA, spin-orbit ZORA, scalar PAULI, and spin-orbit PAULI. Results from relativistic calculations are in agreement with the trends predicted by the qualitative model discussed in this work.

Analysis of the electronic origin of the 1JCH spin-spin coupling trend in 1-X-cyclopropanes: experimental and DFT study.

A conceptual analysis of the CLOPPA (Contributions from Localized Orbitals within the Polarization Propagator Approach) expressions that deconvolute NMR spin-spin coupling constants [Diz A. C.; Giribet C. G.; Ruiz de Azua, M. C.; Contreras, R. H. Int. J. Quantum Chem. 1990, 37, 663.] into orbital contributions can provide an in-depth insight into the features of the electronic molecular structure that originate a given 1JCH experimental trend. In this work, several 1-X-cyclopropane derivatives are taken as model compounds to apply such ideas to rationalize substituent effects on the Fermi contact term of 1JC1,H spin-spin coupling. It is shown that in this type of coupling, its experimental trend, as measured in this work, cannot be accounted for with only the "bond" and the "other bond" contributions, requiring the inclusion of "other antibonding contributions". Such effect is discussed in terms of hyperconjugative interactions.

On the unusual 2J(C2-H(f)) coupling dependence on syn/anti CHO conformation in 5-X-furan-2-carboxaldehydes.

A remarkable difference for (2)J(C(2)-H(f)) coupling constant in syn and anti conformers of 5-X-furan-2-carboxaldehydes (X = CH(3), Ph, NO(2), Br) and a rationalization of this difference are reported. On the basis of the current knowledge of the Fermi-contact term transmission, a rather unusual dual-coupling pathway in the syn conformer is presented. The additional coupling pathway resembles somewhat that of the J(H-H) in homoallylic couplings, which are transmitted by hyperconjugative interactions involving the pi(C=C) electronic system. The homoallylic coupling pathway can be labeled as sigma*(C-H) <-- pi(C=C) --> sigma*(C-H). In the present case, this additional coupling pathway, using an analogous notation, can be labeled as sigma*(C(2)-C(C)) <-- LP(1)(O(1))...LP(2)(O(C)) --> sigma*(C(C)-H(f)) (sigma*(C(2)-C(C))) where O(1) and O(C) stand for the ring and carbonyl O atoms, respectively. This additional coupling pathway is not activated in the anti conformers since both oxygen lone pairs do not overlap.

NMR spin-spin couplings involving nuclei in the neighborhood of a carbonyl group. 3JCH couplings in alpha-substituted acetamides.

In this work 3JCH spin-spin coupling constants (SSCCs) for the cis- and trans-conformers for alpha-X-acetamides (X = F, Cl, Br and CN) (1-4) were studied in detail since they were found to be notably different for both conformers. These differences are rationalized as originating in the changes of the strong negative hyperconjugative interactions that take place within the carbonyl group. Such changes are found to depend not only on conformation, but also on solvent. For the cis-conformers there is a close proximity between the X-substituent and the in-plane oxygen lone pair of pure p character, which affects notably their respective negative hyperconjugative interactions. Both the efficiency for transmitting the Fermi contact (FC) term through the coupling pathway of 3JCH SSCCs and its potential as a probe to study the stereochemical properties of the XH2C group are discussed.

The effect of carbonyl group in the asymmetry of 3,4JCH coupling constants in norbornanones.

A rationalization of the known difference between the 3,4JC4H1 and 3,4JC1H4 couplings transmitted mainly through the 7-bridge in norbornanone is presented in terms of the effects of hyperconjugative interactions involving the carbonyl group. Theoretical and experimental studies of 3,4JCH couplings were carried out in 3-endo- and 3-exo-X-2-norbornanone derivatives (X = Cl, Br) and in exo- and endo-2-noborneol compounds. Hyperconjugative interactions were studied with the natural bond orbital (NBO) method. Hyperconjugative interactions involving the carbonyl pi*(C2=O) and sigma*(C2=O) antibonding orbitals produce a decrease of three-bond contribution to both 3,4JC4H1 and 3,4JC1H4 couplings. However, the latter antibonding orbital also undergoes a strong sigmaC3--C4 --> sigma*(C2=O) interaction, which defines an additional coupling pathway for 3,4JC4H1 but not for 3,4JC1H4. This pathway is similar to that known for homoallylic couplings, the only difference being the nature of the intermediate antibonding orbital; i.e. for 3,4JC4H1 it is of sigma*-type, while in homoallylic couplings it is of pi*-type.

Stereochemical study of iminodihydrofurans based on experimental measurements and SOPPA calculations of (13)C-(13)C spin-spin coupling constants.

Configurational assignment and conformational analysis of a series of iminodihydrofurans obtained from cyanoacetylenic alcohols were performed on the basis of experimental measurements and high-level ab initio calculations of their (13)C-(13)C spin-spin coupling constants. The title compounds were shown to form and exist in solution as the individual Z isomers, adopting the orthogonal orientation of the amino, alkylamino and dialkylamino groups and the s-trans orientation of the CONH(2) group at the C(4) position of the 2,5-dihydro-2-iminofuran moiety.