Lucas C. Ducati

Analysis of Canonical Molecular Orbitals to Identify Fermi Contact Coupling Pathways. 1. Through-Space Transmission by Overlap of 31P 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.

Conformational preferences for some 5-substituted 2-acetylthiophenes through infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations

The s-cis-trans isomerisms of some derivatives of thiophene (2-acetyl, AT; 2-acetyl-5-bromo, ABT and 2-acetyl-5-chloro, ACT) were analyzed, using data from deconvolution of their carbonyl absorption bands in two solvents (CCl4 and CHCl3). These infrared data showed that the O,S-cis conformer largely predominates in the studied solvents and that the same occurs in the gas phase, as observed from theoretical calculations. The latter results were obtained using B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,3p) and MP2/6-311++G(3df,3p) levels of theory, with zero-point energy correction. Moreover, the use of the IEFPCM (Integral Equation Formalism Polarizable Continuum Model) to take into account the solvent effects, using the same levels of theory, confirmed the results observed from infrared data. Low temperature 13C NMR spectra in CS2/CD2Cl2 (-90 °C) and in acetone-d6 (-80°C) did not show pairs of signals for each carbon, due to the known low energy barrier (∼8 kcal mol(-1)) for the cis-trans interconversion. Data from NBO calculations show that the nO(2)→σS-C5* and nO(2)→σC2-C3* interactions occur only in the O,S-cis isomer and can explain its conformational preference.

Conformational analysis and intramolecular interactions of L-proline methyl ester and its N-acetylated derivative through spectroscopic and theoretical studies.

This work reports a detailed study regarding the conformational preferences of L-proline methyl ester (ProOMe) and its N-acetylated derivative (AcProOMe) to elucidate the effects that rule their behaviors, through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopies combined with theoretical calculations. These compounds do not present a zwitterionic form in solution, simulating properly amino acid residues in biological media, in a way closer than amino acids in the gas phase. Experimental (3)JHH coupling constants and infrared data showed excellent agreement with theoretical calculations, indicating no variations in conformer populations on changing solvents. Natural bond orbital (NBO) results showed that hyperconjugative interactions are responsible for the higher stability of the most populated conformer of ProOMe, whereas for AcProOMe both hyperconjugative and steric effects rule its conformational equilibrium.

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.

Studies on the s-cis-trans isomerism for some furan derivatives through IR and NMR spectroscopies and theoretical calculations.

The s-cis-trans isomerism of two furan derivatives [2-acetyl- (AF) and 2-acetyl-5-methylfuran, (AMF)] was analyzed, using data from the deconvolution of their carbonyl absorption band in two solvents (CH(2)Cl(2) and CH(3)CN). These infrared data showed that the O,O-trans conformers predominate in the less polar solvent (CH(2)Cl(2)), but these equilibria change in a more polar solvent (CH(3)CN) leading to a slight predominance of the O,O-cis conformers, in agreement with the theoretical calculations. The later results were obtained using B3LYP-IEFPCM/6-31++g(3df,3p) level of theory, which taking into account the solvent effects at IEFPCM (Integral Equation Formalism Polarizable Continuum Model). Low temperature (13)CNMR spectra in CD(2)Cl(2) (ca. -75 °C) showed pairs of signals for each carbon, due to the known high energy barrier for the cis-trans interconversion leading to a large predominance of the trans isomers, which decreases in acetone-d(6). This was confirmed by their (1)HNMR spectra at the same temperatures. Moreover, despite the larger hyperconjugative interactions for the O,O-cis isomers, obtained from NBO data, these isomers are destabilized by the their Lewis energy.

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.

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 2JC2H3 and 2JC3H2 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. Copyright

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.

Conformational analysis of 2-halocyclopentanones by NMR and IR spectroscopies and theoretical calculations

The conformational isomerism of 2-chlorocyclopentanone and 2-bromocyclopentanone has been determined through the solvent dependence of the (1)H NMR (3)J(HH) coupling constants, theoretical calculations and infrared data, using the solvation theory for the treatment of NMR data. In 2-chlorocyclopentanone, the energy difference (E(Psi-e)-E(Psi-a)), in the isolated molecule at B3LYP level of theory, between the pseudo-equatorial (Psi-e) and pseudo-axial (Psi-a) conformers is 0.42kcalmol(-1), which decreases in CCl(4) and in acetonitrile solutions, in good agreement with infrared data (nu(CO)), despite the uncertainties of the latter method. The conformational equilibrium for 2-bromocyclopentanone is also between the Psi-e and Psi-a conformations, with an energy difference (E(Psi-e)-E(Psi-a)), in the isolated molecule at B3LYP level of theory, is 0.85kcalmol(-1) which decreases in CCl(4) and in acetonitrile solutions, also in good agreement with infrared data.

Efeito das interações hiperconjugativas na constante de acoplamento ¹J CH da hexametilenotetramina e do adamantano: estudo teórico e experimental

The objective of this work was to determine the influence of hyperconjugative interactions on the 1JCH coupling constant for hexamethylenetetramine (1) and adamantane (2). For this end, theoretical and experimental 1JCH were obtained and hyperconjugative interactions were investigated using NBO. It was observed, theoretically and experimentally, that 1JCH in 1 is 20 Hz larger than in 2, mainly due to the nN®s*C-H hyperconjugative interaction. This interaction occurs only in 1, with an energy of 9.30 kcal mol-1. It increases the s-character of the carbon atom in the C-H bond and the occupancy of the s*C-H orbital in (1).