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Beryllium-9 (9Be) quadrupolar coupling and chemical shift tensor data are reported for bis(1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-2-ylidene)beryllium (Be(CAAC)2). These are the first such data for beryllium in a linear dicoordinate environment. The 9Be quadrupolar coupling constant, 2.36(0.02) MHz, is the largest recorded in the solid state to date for this isotope. The span of the beryllium chemical shift tensor, 22(2) ppm, covers about half of the known 9Be chemical shift range, and the isotropic 9Be chemical shift, 32.0(0.3) ppm, is the largest reported in the solid state to our knowledge. DFT calculations reproduce the experimental data well. A natural localized molecular orbital approach has been used to explain the origins and orientation of the beryllium electric field gradient tensor. The single-crystal X-ray structure of a second polymorph of Be(CAAC)2 is also reported. Inspection of the powder X-ray diffraction data shows that the new crystal structure is part of the bulk product next to another crystalline phase. Therefore, experimental X-ray powder data for the microcrystalline powder sample and the SSNMR data do not fully match either the originally reported crystal structure (Arrowsmith et al. Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 890–894) or the new polymorph. The ability of solid-state NMR and powder X-ray diffraction to characterize powdered samples was thus particularly useful in this work.

Si+(CO2)n and Si+(CO2)nAr ion–molecule complexes were produced by laser vaporization in a pulsed supersonic expansion. The ions were mass-selected in a reflectron time-of-flight spectrometer and studied with infrared photodissociation spectroscopy near the asymmetric stretch vibration of CO2. Si+(CO2)n clusters fragment by the loss of CO2 whereas Si+(CO2)nAr complexes fragment by the loss of argon. All clusters have resonances near the CO2 asymmetric stretch, but with shifts in frequency that are size dependent. The patterns seen in the small clusters are consistent with electrostatic bonding, while the larger systems provide evidence for an intracluster reaction forming oxide-carbonyl species. Density functional theory was employed to examine the structures of these clusters, and their calculated vibrational frequencies were compared to the measured values. Ligand assembly in Si+(CO2)n complexes is dominated by the presence of the occupied 3p valence orbital of the silicon cation. Key words: ion–molecule complexes, infrared spectroscopy, photodissociation, density functional theory.

In an ABX high-resolution NMR spectrum the detection of combination peaks in the X region yields only the chemical shift of X, JAX + JBX and the positive quantities [Formula: see text]. However, the presence of an additional isotopic perturbation on νA − νB, the difference between the resonance frequencies of A and B, yields two X spectra; therefore four quantities, C. Hence all quantities in the surd become available from the composite X spectrum. A generalization to ABMRX spin systems, applicable to the 1H and 19F NMR spectra of the two isotopic molecules of 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene, is possible. It turns out that, from the H-5(X) spectrum alone, the following spectral quantities are extractable; the two values of νA − νB where A and B are the 19F nuclei; JAB; JAX and JBX with their relative signs; JMX and JRX where M and R are H-3 and H-6. No 37Cl/35Cl isotope effect is detectable on the 1H shielding nor on any coupling constants. F-2 undergoes an isotope shift of −1.64(3) ppb. The isotope shift, over five formal bonds, of F-4 is −0.54(3) ppb (larger shielding in the presence of 37Cl). This magnitude is three times larger than that over four formal bonds in another molecule, 2,6-dichloro-4-fluorophenol. Key words: 1H NMR, of 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene, isotope effects in NMR, reflection of 37Cl/35Cl isotope effects on 19F shielding in the 1H NMR spectrum of 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene; isotope effects in NMR, over three and five bonds by 37Cl/35Cl on 19F shielding in 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene; 19F NMR, 37Cl/35Cl isotope effects over three and five bonds in 1-chloro-2,4-difluorobenzene.

The internal rotational potential for benzal fluoride is computed at various levels of molecular orbital theory, including correlation-gradient, MP2 (frozen core) methods. The perturbations of the potential caused by solvents are calculated with the Onsager model (ellipsoidal cavity with l = 6 in the multipole expansion) as well as with the self-consistent isodensity – polarizable continuum model (SCI–PCM). Analysis of the 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in cyclohexane-d12 and acetone-d6 solutions yields long-range spin–spin coupling constants from which the expectation values of [Formula: see text] can be derived. These expectation values can be compared with those calculated from the theoretical internal rotational potential. Reasonable agreement is found for potentials obtained from MP2/6-31G* approaches in both solvent models. Long-range coupling constants between 19F and 13C nuclei are also reported and provide very rough checks of the [Formula: see text] values. For the isolated molecule an additivity scheme based on the potential for benzyl fluoride reproduces much of the potential for benzal fluoride except for a deviation caused by the rather larger relative magnitude of the fourfold component in the latter. The minimum in the potential for benzal fluoride occurs for a torsional angle, [Formula: see text] of 90° corresponding to a conformation in which the C—H bond of the side chain lies in a plane perpendicular to the phenyl plane and is rationalized on the basis of electrostatic forces. The conformations of minimum energy for the benzyl and benzal fluorides and chlorides are compared and contrasted. The magnitudes of the internal potentials of the fluorides are only a little larger than thermal energies at 300 K and can become smaller than the latter in soludon. Key words: NMR spectroscopy, of benzal fluoride; spin–spin coupling constants, long range in benzal fluoride; solvent effects, on internal rotational potential in benzal fluoride; molecular orbital computations, structure, internal rotational potential, and its solvent perturbations in benzal fluoride; benzal fluoride, 1H, 19F, and 13C NMR on, internal rotational potential, MO computations.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 2-formylstyrene, from dilute solutions in CS2–C6DI2 and acetone-d6, are analyzed to yield precise chemical shifts and spin–spin coupling constants. The long-range coupling constants imply a conformational distribution in which the O-trans conformer is 55% abundant in both polar and nonpolar environments. They also imply that the vinyl group, on average, is twisted out of the aromatic plane to a much larger extent than in styrene. The 6-31G* basis set gives an ab initio potential for the torsion of the vinyl moiety with a relatively deep minimum at 38° out-of-plane, for the O-cis conformer. For the O-trans conformer, two minima are found, one at 45° and another at 129.6°. Essentially the same potential is obtained with the 6-31G** basis. The latter corresponds to a close approach of the hydrogen atom of the formyl group and π orbitals or the β-carbon atom of the olefinic side chain. This local minimum is interesting in terms of a hypothesis used to explain the photochemistry of the molecule. The long-range coupling constants are consistent with the conformational properties calculated for the free molecule; they also indicate no significant difference between the conformational behaviour of the molecule in the two solvents. A proximate coupling constant of −0.16 Hz exists between the formyl and methine (α) protons. The latter is strongly deshielded in the presence of the formyl group, so that it becomes even less shielded than some of the aromatic protons. Keywords: 1H NMR, 2-formylstyrene (o-vinylbenzaldehyde); long-range spin–spin coupling constants, 2-formylstyrene; conformations, three nonplanar of 2-formylstyrene; molecular orbital calculations, conformations of 2-formylstyrene.

The 1H, 19Fand 13C{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-phenylethane, 1, in CS2–C6D12, acetone-d6, and benzene-d6 solutions, on analysis, yield long-range coupling constants from which are derived the apparent twofold barriers to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bonds. The twofold barrier is 9.0(2) kJ/mol, independent of solvent, 4.0 kJ/mol larger than that of ethylbenzene, also independent of solvent. The theoretical barrier heights for the free molecules at the post-Hartree–Fock level of molecular orbital theory (frozen-core MP2/6-31G*) also differ by 4 kJ/mol, but are about 1 kJ/mol higher than the experimental estimates. The perpendicular conformer is the most stable for both molecules. Comparisons are made with the benzyl halides, in which the internal barriers are remarkably sensitive to solvent. A spin–spin coupling constant over five formal bonds, 5J(H, F), involving the ortho protons in 1, is +0.74(2) Hz and is discussed in some detail in terms of its dependence on intenuclear distances (possible through-space interactions). The solvent perturbations of 3J(H, F) and of 2J(C, F) are of opposite sign. Other long-range coupling constants or their absence are also pointed out. For example, those between 19F and 13C nuclei or protons at the meta position are effectively zero; at the para position they are significant. Keywords: 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-phenylethane; 1H, 19F, and 13C NMR; long-range spin-spin coupling constants; through-space 1H, 19F spin–spin coupling constants; internal rotational potential; molecular orbital computations of internal potential.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of phenylallene, diluted in acetone-d6 and benzene-d6, yield long-range coupling constants over as many as eight formal bonds between the ring and side-chain protons. These are discussed in terms of σ- and π-electron spin–spin coupling mechanisms, which are sensitive to the torsion angle between the allenyl and phenyl fragments. The torsion angle is assessed by means of molecular orbital computations of the internal rotational potential, whose height is calculated as 16.0 kJ/mol at the MP2/6-31G* level of correlation-gradient theory. Comparison with experimental and theoretical internal rotational potentials for styrene suggests that steric repulsions in the planar form of styrene amount to about 4 kJ/mol. In a field of 7.0 T, phenylallene is partially aligned, entailing a positive dipolar coupling constant between the methylene protons, from which absolute signs of the spin–spin coupling constants involving these protons can be inferred. Such coupling constants over seven and eight bonds, to the meta and para protons, are taken as being mediated by the extended π-electron system, providing a measure of π-electron contributions to coupling constants between meta protons and those in side chains (spin correlation). Some coupling constants between protons and 13C nuclei in the side chain, as well as between ring protons and these 13C nuclei, are also discussed in terms of spin coupling mechanisms. Solvent perturbations of one-bond proton–carbon coupling constants in the allenyl group do not follow the usual pattern in which an increase in polarity of the solvent is associated with an increase in the magnitude of the coupling constant. Keywords: 1H NMR, phenylallene; 1H NMR, long-range spin–spin coupling constants in phenylallene; phenylallene, internal rotational potential, molecular orbital computations; molecular orbital calculations, an internal rotational potential in phenylallene.

The 1H, 19F, and 13C {H} nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 300 K of 4-fluoro- and 3,5-difluorobenzyl fluoride, dissolved in CS2–C6D12 and acetone-d6, are fully analyzed. Spin–spin coupling constants over four, five, and six formal bonds are used to derive expectation values of sin2θ and [Formula: see text] and the apparent twofold internal rotational potentials; [Formula: see text] is the angle by which the α C—F(C—H) bond twists out of the ring plane. The conformation of lowest energy has [Formula: see text] for the 3,5-difluoro compound in the polar and nonpolar solutions, whereas it has [Formula: see text] for the 4-fluoro derivative. The magnitudes of the potentials lie between 2 and 4 kJ/mol, that is, comparable to thermal energies. These data are compared with previous results for the parent compound and its 3,5-dichloro derivative. Geometry-optimized molecular orbital computations, including some correlation-gradient procedures, for benzyl fluoride and the two fluoro derivatives have [Formula: see text] for the conformations of highest energy of the free molecules. However, geometry-optimized SCFRF calculations of the solvent perturbations of the potential (dipole terms are insufficient) are in semiquantitative agreement with experiment in the sense that both solvents are predicted to destabilize the conformation with [Formula: see text] For example, the predominant twofold component in the computed (6-31G*) potential is 3.4 (free), −0.7 (CS2), and −3.3 (acetone-d6) kJ/mol for benzyl fluoride, a negative number indicating [Formula: see text] for the stable conformer; the experimental values are −0.8(2) (CS2) and −2.7(2) (acetone-d6) kJ/mol. The agreement between experiment and theory is of a similar quality for the fluoro derivatives. The stabilization of the conformer with [Formula: see text] for the 4-fluoro derivative is tentatively attributed to hyperconjugative electron acceptance by the α C—F bond, enhanced by the π-electron donor at the para position. A number of coupling constants are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms of their transmission. Future experiments are indicated. Keywords: 1H, 19F, 13C NMR of 4-fluorobenzyl fluoride and 3,5-difluorobenzyl fluoride; MO calculations and internal rotational potentials in benzyl fluoride, 3,5-difluorobenzyl fluoride, and 4-fluorobenzyl fluoride; solvent effects and experimental and theoretical approaches to internal rotational potentials in 3,5-difluorobenzyl fluoride and 4-fluorobenzyl fluoride.

The free energies of activation at 110 K for rotation about the exocyclic C—C bonds in 2,6-difluorobenzaldehyde and 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde, in dimethyl ether solutions, are 18.8 ± 0.5 and 20.0 ± 0.5 kJ mol−1, respectively, as determined from 19F{1H} dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. For the parent compound ΔG≠ is 32.2 kJ mol−1 in the same solvent. These free energy barriers, the lowest available for benzaldehyde derivatives, are likely a result of steric and electrostatic repulsions between the C+—O− and C+—F− bonds. Computations of the spectroscopic barrier in the 2,6-difluoro compound at various levels of molecular orbital theory imply that the barrier is predominantly twofold, with a fourfold component of opposite sign, whose magnitude is about 10% of the twofold component. A correlation-gradient computation, MP2/6-31G*, finds a barrier height of 18.6 kJ mol−1 for this compound, lower by 3.0 kJ mol−1 than found with the 6-31G* basis and 2.9 kJ mol−1 with 6-31G**. Similar computations are compared for the parent compound and the 4-fluoro, 2,4,6-trifluoro, and 3,5-difluoro derivatives. Linear relationships exist between the computed spectroscopic barriers (ΔE values at absolute zero for the free molecules) and the free energy barriers for benzaldehyde and the four fluoro derivatives; the theoretical barriers utilize 6-31G** and correlation-gradient MP2/6-31G* procedures. For the 2,6-difluoro derivative, the computed frequencies of the torsional motions about the exocyclic C—C bond yield spectroscopic twofold barriers. These barriers are much lower than the computed energy differences between the planar and perpendicular conformers, perhaps because the negative fourfold components flatten the potential at its minimum. A rough estimate of the relationship between ΔG≠ and ΔE0 for the 2,6-difluorobenzaldehyde suggests that the solvent increases the internal barrier by only about 3 kJ mol−1. By way of contrast, the AM1 barriers, scaled by a factor of 1.9 (as previously recommended) range from 17.3 to 22.6 kJ mol−1, the ΔG≠ values from 18.8(5) to 34.4 kJ mol−1, and the MP2/6-31G* (correlation-gradient) barriers span 18.6 to 36.8 kJ mol−1 for benzaldehyde and the four fluorine derivatives. It seems likely that the internal barrier in benzaldehyde is considerably larger than that modeled on torsional frequencies. Keywords: Free energies of activation, internal rotational barriers in 2,6-difluoro- and 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde; molecular orbital computations, internal rotational barriers in 2,6-difluoro- and 2,4,6-trifluorobenzaldehyde; correlation gradient computations on internal barriers in benzaldehyde and four of its fluorine derivatives.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of ethylbenzene-β-13C in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 solutions yield long-range 1H,1H and 1H,13C coupling constants. The 13C {1H} NMR spectra yield 13C, 13C couplings. The conformational dependence of some of these coupling constants is compatible with two values of the barrier to internal rotation about the exocyclic Csp2—Csp3 bond. If the fourfold component of the internal rotational potential is not larger than about 20% of the twofold component and the perpendicular conformer is most stable, then the barrier height is probably less than 6 kJ/mol. However, if the stable conformer has a torsion angle of 60° for the exocyclic C—C bond, then the coupling constants are consistent with a twofold barrier of about 23 kJ/mol. Experimental values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where ψ and θ are the torsion angles for the exocyclic C—C and C—H bonds, respectively, are compared to those obtained from INDO MO FPT computations of the angular dependence of nJ(H,C), and nJ(H,H), nJ(C,C) for n ≥ 3. For example, the computations very likely give the correct qualitative ψ dependence of 5J(C,C), yet overestimate its extremum by about a factor of two, either because of an overestimate of the σ–π exchange integrals or because of too large a valence orbital density at the carbon nucleus. Other nJ values are discussed in a similar manner and, because optimized geometries are used in the computations, a somewhat more reliable treatment arises for some coupling constants; an example is 3J(C,C) at small torsion angles.

The proton chemical shifts and the proton spin–spin coupling constants are reported for 1-phenyl-1-butyne and 1-phenyl-1-pentyne dissolved in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6. The long-range coupling constants between the methylene and ring protons are used to derive the twofold barriers to internal rotation in these molecules. They are 0.5 ± 0.1 kJ/mol; the perpendicular conformer is the most stable, the one in which the C(3)—C(4) bond of the side chain lies in a plane perpendicular to the phenyl group. This energetic preference is assigned to the difference between C—C and C—H hyperconjugative interactions with the aromatic π electron system, the C—C interaction being larger. Comparison of the twofold components of the internal rotational barriers in biphenyl and diphenylacetylene, that in the latter amounting to 40% of that in the former, implies that the hyperconjugative component of the internal barrier in ethylbenzene is 1.2 ± 0.3 kJ/mol, a minor component of the total magnitude. Molecular orbital computations of the conformational energies of 1 -phenyl-1-butyne all agree that the perpendicular conformer has the lowest energy but only to the extent of 0.1 kJ/mol at most.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of 2-phenyl-1,3-dithiane, as a dilute solution in a CS2–C6D12–TMS solvent mixture at 300 K, is analyzed to yield 8 chemical shifts and 22 distinct coupling constants, nJ(H,H), n = 2–6. The coupling constant between H-2 and the para proton indicates, first, that the bisected conformer (phenyl plane perpendicular to the pseudo plane of the dithiane ring) is most stable and, second, that the apparent twofold barrier to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bond is 9.6 kJ/mol. The AM1, STO-3G, and STO-3G* computations confirm the twofoldedness of the barrier; the AM1 barrier is 9.4 kJ/mol. The empirical equation, [Formula: see text] reproduces the vicinal coupling constants of the CH2CH2CH2 fragments and implies puckering angles [Formula: see text] of 54°, 61°, and 64°, respectively. It is implied that 3J at [Formula: see text] is larger than at [Formula: see text] This results is discussed in terms of the latest theoretical approach to 3J in the HCCH fragment. The 4J(H,H) signs and magnitudes for the CH2CH2CH2 fragment agree reasonably well with theory. For the CH2SCH fragment, 4J(H,H) values are positive, in contrast to corresponding numbers in the propanic fragment, perhaps the first experimental values for certain rigid orientations about a heteroatom. INDO MO FPT computations on propane, dimethyl ether, and dimethyl sulfide confirm the experimental trend in 4J(H,H). 2J(H,H) and 5J(H,H) values are compared to those in related molecules. The striking differential shifts of the axial and equatorial protons are attributed to differential van der Waals interactions with the 3p lone-pair orbital on sulfur. A comparison of the ring proton chemical shifts with those in phenylcyclohexane and isopropylbenzene implies that C—S bonds are weaker net electron donors by hyperconjugation than are C—C bonds. It is also proposed that the ortho protons are deshielded by intramolecular van der Waals interactions with the 3p orbitals on the sulfur atoms.

The analyses of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 solutions yield stereospecific coupling constants from which the populations of the O-cis and O-trans conformers are derived. The free energy differences favouring the O-trans conformer at 300 K are 2.7 and 0.9 kJ/mol, in the polar and nonpolar solutions, respectively; in the crystal only the O-cis conformer exists. The coupling constant, 4J(CHO, P), is estimated as −7.1(2) Hz in the O-trans confomer and 3J(CHO, P) as +29.4(1.3) Hz. Their magnitudes depend on the proximity of the C—H bond to the lone pair on phosphorus. nJ(C, P) are reported for triphenylphosphine and for the benzaldehyde derivative as dilute solutions in the two solvents, demonstrating a significant solvent dependence for some of these coupling constants. Some simple relationships are proposed between nJ(C, P) and the torsion angle about the C—P bond, estimates of the latter coming from AM1 and STO 3G MO computations. nJ(C, P) are also sensitive to intrinsic ring substituent perturbations, as are the nJ(H, P); for example, 5J(H, P) is negative in the disubstituted ring of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde but positive in the phenyl groups. The nJ(H, P) are also discussed with respect to their dependence on the torsion angles about the C—P bonds. It appears that the conformational properties of the aromatic rings in triphenylphosphine and its formyl derivative are very similar. Further, the phosphorus atom is polarized such that the carbonyl bond is attracted towards the positive region near phosphorus, and the C—H bond of the formyl group more towards the lone-pair region; the actual torsion angles represent a compromise between these attractive forces and the repulsive forces between bonds on neighbouring aromatic moieties. CNDO/2 MO and INDO MO FPT computations of nJ(C, P) and nJ(H, P) are of mixed utility, although the former bear out the idea that the proximate [Formula: see text]lone-pair interaction dominates 3J(CHO,P) and 4J(CHO,P).

Precise 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters are reported for salicyladehyde and its 3-fluoro and 5-fluoro derivatives in nonpolar solutions. Such data are also given for the 2-mercapto, 2-methylthio, and 2-methoxy derivatives of benzaldehyde. Comparison of the long-range coupling constants in the various compounds and their conformers shows a large perturbation of their magnitudes by hydrogen bond formation. For the salicylaldehyde system, the perturbation is particularly large for couplings involving the aldehyde proton and protons or fluorine nuclei placed ortho to the hydroxyl group. For example, 5Jt (F, CHO) is reduced by about 50%. The perturbation, as expected, is much smaller for coupling constants of nuclei remote from the site of the hydrogen bond. In 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde the long-range coupling constants are also sensitive to hydrogen bond formation, those involving the sulfhydryl proton markedly so compared to the hydroxyl proton in salicylaldehyde. The strength of the [Formula: see text] bond is discussed. It is argued that the reference conformer for the mercapto compound in such a discussion is less easily defined than for salicylaldehyde because [Formula: see text] are similar to [Formula: see text] energies. The experimental data for the CCl4 solutions imply a free energy of formation of the [Formula: see text] bond of 4.8(5) kJ/mol at 300 K. Molecular orbital computations on the four planar conformers of each salicylaldehyde and 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde with the 6-31 G**(5D) basis are reported. For salicylaldehyde, the [Formula: see text] arrangement is taken as the reference conformer, with a computed energy of 25.7 kJ/mol relative to the hydrogen-bonded structure. For 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde, the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] conformers are calculated to be isoenergetic, at 5.1 kJ/mol relative to the hydrogen-bonded conformer. Hence either arrangement serves as a reference structure in computations of the strength of the hydrogen bond. The computations are consistent with the experimental results for solutions of the molecules under discussion. An appendix gives the computed geometries of the eight planar conformers, as well as some atomic charges, allowing a rationalization of the relative energies of the conformers.

Excess molar volumes, excess viscosities, and excess energies of activation for viscous flow have been determined for the n-decane + 1-chlorodecane system at different temperatures, over the whole concentration range. The Prigogine–Flory–Patterson model for solution thermodynamics has been used to calculate the excess molar volumes. Grunberg and Nissan, McAllister, Teja and Rice, and Schrodt and Akel models have been used to calculate viscosity coefficients and these were compared with experimental data for the mixtures.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters are reported for triphenylphosphine as solutions in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 at 300 K. The internal rotational potential opposing torsion about the P—C bond is computed by AMI and STO-3G MO methods. The computed potentials are used to calculate the average shielding of the para protons caused by the diamagnetic anisotropies of the neighbouring phenyl groups. The results are used to estimate the degree of electron delocalization from the lone pair on phosphorus. The extent of delocalization depends on the internal motions and comparisons are made with phenylphosphine. The maximum possible screening of the para protons in phenylphosphine is calculated as 0.19 ppm for a conformation in which the lone pair on phosphorus is oriented perpendicular to the aromatic plane. The intramolecular rotational potentials then yield 0.029 ppm as the shielding of the para protons in triphenylphosphine due to electron delocalization, just as found for the CS2/C6D12 solution after correction for diamagnetic anisotropy fields.

Some 30 proton chemical shifts and proton–proton coupling constants are reported for a 4.7 mol% solution of 3-phenylpentane in a CS2/C6D12/TMS solvent mixture at 300 K. The long-range coupling constant over six formal bonds between the methine and para protons is used to deduce an apparent twofold barrier of 15.0 ± 0.3 kJ/mol to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bond, at least twice as large as that for isopropylbenzene in solution. AM1 computations agree with experiment in finding the conformation of lowest energy as that in which the methine C—H bond is situated in the phenyl plane, but predict a barrier height of only 13.9 kJ/mol. The vicinal coupling constants are consistent with a fractional population, 0.38(2), of the TT conformer, that in which all the carbon atoms of the alkyl chain lie in a plane. A doubly degenerate conformer, TG+(G−T), in which one methyl group is twisted away from the phenyl substituent, then has a fractional population of 0.62(2). The assumption that only these three conformers are present is tested with the signs and magnitudes of the four different coupling constants over four bonds. These coupling constants are consistent with the absence of significant proportions of the other six all-staggered conformers. These six are characterized by a close approach of the methyl groups (1,5 interactions) or by proximity of the methyl and phenyl moieties.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of phenylpropynal and 1-phenylpropyne are analyzed for CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 solutions. The ensuing spin–spin coupling constants over eight formal bonds are used in assessing the conformational dependence of the one in the propynal derivative, as compared to the one over six bonds in benzaldehyde. The eight-bond coupling constant in phenylpropynal implies, via a hindered rotor model, that the twofold barrier to internal rotation is 5.9 ± 1.6 kJ/mol in both solutions. This number is much smaller than that for the internal barrier in benzaldehyde, reflecting the reduced π electron conjugation in phenylpropynal. Molecular orbital computations, with geometry optimization, confirm the essentially purely twofold internal barrier in the free propynal. The theoretical magnitudes are given for AM1 calculations, as well as for abinitio computations with STO-3G, 3-21G, 6-31G, and 6-31G* bases. To within experimental error, the barrier magnitudes from the split-valence basis sets agree with those obtained in solution.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of isobutylbenzene as a dilute solution in CS2/C6D12 at 300 K is analyzed. The gauche conformer (statistical weight 2) predominates, as was previously shown for a jet-cooled stream of this compound. The apparent twofold barrier to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bond is 10.5 ± 0.5 kJ/mol, as must be the case for the analogous gauche conformer of n-propylbenzene. The internal barriers are compared for ethylbenzene, gauche isobutylbenzene, and neopentylbenzene. AM1 and STO-3G MO computations of the conformer stabilities and barriers are reported, the latter being in better agreement with experiment.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters are reported for 4.0 mol% solutions of 2-(4-chlorophenylthio) benzaldehyde in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 at 300 K. In CS2 the O-syn conformer is 36% abundant, rising to 50% in acetone-d6. These abundances are compared to those of the O-syn and O-trans conformers of 2-(alkylthio) benzaldehydes in CCl4, solution. On the basis of coupling constants and chemical shifts it is concluded that the skew conformer of the title compound is very likely the one of minimum energy in both solutions. In the skew conformer the plane of the 4-chlorophenyl group lies perpendicular to the CSC plane and also to that of the other aromatic moiety. It is suggested that the [Formula: see text] interaction is rather weak and that the population of the O-syn conformer is controlled by the orientation of the mainly 3p lone-pair orbital on sulfur. At best, the [Formula: see text] interaction is attractive only when the 3p orbital lies perpendicular to the plane of the formyl group. The skew conformation of the title compound is contrasted to the skew conformation of 2-hydroxyphenyl phenyl sulfide in which, however, the role of the two aromatic planes is reversed; the 3p orbital now lies in or near the plane of the phenyl group COH due to an attractive [Formula: see text] interaction.

A horizontal recurrence relation (HRR) is derived which may be used in the generation of two-electron repulsion integrals (ERIs). Also, special Cartesian coordinate axes may be used to reduce the number of intermediate terms. Heretofore, the use of local axis systems entailed rotations every time a shell quadruple of ERIs was computed. Recently, we pointed out the possibility of postponing the transformation using choices of Cartesian reference frames based on nuclear positions. In our pilot implementation of direct and semi-direct Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2) we construct the integrals in local coordinate systems and perform the back-transformation in the middle of the AO to MO integral transformation, rather than rotating the ERIs after the computation of each shell quadruple. The efficacy of this approach depends on whether the gains in ERI computation are greater than the losses incurred in transformation. Preliminary CPU profiles indicate that the increased time spent in rotating axes is quite small. Keywords: horizontal recurrence relation, second-order perturbation theory.

Internal rotational potentials for rotation about the Csp2—O bond in C6H5OCF3 and its 4-fluoro derivative are computed at the STO-3G and 3-12G levels of molecular orbital theory. As for anisole, the perpendicular conformer is calculated as least stable for C6H5OCF3 but the height of the internal barrier is considerably lower than in anisole. The 4-fluoro substituent reduces the twofold component significantly, indicating reduced p …π conjugation, but does not much change the values of the higher terms in the theoretical potentials. The internal potentials are rather flat with minima between about 30° and 45°, these angles measuring the twist away from planarity. The 1H, 13C, and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in polar and nonpolar solution yield long-range coupling constants, nJ(1H,19F) and nJ(13C,19F). These parameters are qualitatively consistent with relatively low barriers to rotation about the Csp2—O bonds in these molecules and with only a small dependence on solvent polarity. Key words: C6H5OCF3 and 4-F-C6H4OCF3: 1H NMR, 19F NMR, conformations, MO computations.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 2-isopropylbenzaldehyde in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 solutions provide the chemical shifts and coupling constants of all the protons. The long-range coupling constants involving the side-chain protons yield certain sums of the populations of the four putatively planar conformations. The o-anti conformers have a fractional population of 0.55(3) in the polar and of 0.49(3) in the nonpolar solvent. The conformers in which the methine C—H bond lies cis to the aldehyde group have a fractional population of 0.83(3) in both solutions. The close approach of the methine and aldehydic hydrogen atoms in one conformer is indicated by a negative proximate coupling constant between their protons of –0.39(1) Hz. The chemical shifts of the ring and of the side-chain protons are consistent with the conformer populations deduced from the long-range coupling constants and also with the indications that the side chains do not, on average, deviate from "coplanarity" with the ring by much more or less than in the parent compounds. The C—H … H—C and C—H … O=C interactions in the o-syn and o-anti conformers are most likely repulsive and of very similar magnitude and lead to a significant deshielding of the protons in these moieties. Molecular orbital computations are also reported and are an aid in estimating the populations of the individual conformers. The STO-3G MO structures have H … H and H … O distances well below the sums of the van der Waals radii of hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the conformers with the methine C—H bond placed cis to the aldehyde group, yet these are computed to be by far the most abundant by the STO-3G as well as by AM1 algorithms. Key words: 2-isopropylbenzaldehyde, conformations of; 2-isopropylbenzaldehyde, proximate spin–spin coupling constants in; MO calculations, STO-3G, and AM1 on 2-isopropylbenzaldehyde, 1H NMR and long-range spin–spin coupling constants in 2-isopropylbenzaldehyde.

The inversion potentials, obtained from STO-3G, STO-3G(*), 3-21G, 3-21G(*), and 4-31G basis sets, are reported for thianthrene and thioxanthene, molecules in which both or only one of the methylene groups have been replaced by sulfur in 9,10-dihydroanthracene. Comparison with the available experimental data suggests that the split-valence bases lead to an overestimate, possibly by about 10 kJ/mol, of the inversion barrier in the crystal, whereas the STO-3G and STO-3G* basis sets underestimate this barrier. It appears that the inversion barrier for thianthrene is much lower in solution than in the crystal. The long-range coupling constants between the methylene and ring protons for thioxanthene in solution are consistent with an inversion barrier somewhat smaller than those obtained with the split-valence bases but rather larger than those predicted with the STO-3G basis set. The bond lengths and angles in the equilibrium structures of the two molecules, as computed with the 3-21G(*) basis, agree reasonably well with those in their crystals, except that the theoretical folding angles are smaller than measured. These discrepancies become less marked when expectation values are calculated from the theoretical inversion potentials at finite temperatures. Key words: MO calculations, inversion potentials of thianthrene and thioxanthene; 1H NMR, thioxanthene; spin–spin coupling constants, long range, in thioxanthene.

The long-range coupling constants between the aldehydic and ring protons of 3-methylbenzaldehyde, in CS2/C6D12 and acetone-d6 solutions, imply an equilibrium constant, K(O-cis/O-trans) of 1.07(4) in both solvents at 300 K. The small preference for the O-cis conformer in both solutions suggests that the O-cis conformer is also the more abundant in the vapor, indicating a reassignment of recently reported electronic bands in this state. Geometry-optimized molecular orbital computations, using the AMl, STO-3G, and 6-31G bases, confirm the slightly lower energy of the free O-cis conformer. The 6J(H,CHO) of +0.015(1) Hz for the acetone solution has the correct sign and magnitude implied by a recent simple model for this coupling constant. Other long-range coupling constants are also discussed in terms of their mechanisms. Key words: conformations, 3MB; NMR, 3MB; spin–spin coupling constants, 3MB; MO computations, 3MB.

The proximate coupling constants, 5J, between ortho and methyl protons in thioanisole and 18 of its derivatives are discussed as conformational indicators. On the assumption that 5J varies as cos4θ, for 0° ≤ θ ≤ 90°, θ being the angle by which the methyl group twists out of the aromatic plane, 5J for θ = 0° follows as −0.43 (2) Hz from the known internal barrier in thioanisole in solution. A measurement of 5J in meta- or para-substituted thioanisole derivatives then yields an approximate value for the twofold barrier to rotation about the Csp2—S bond. For derivatives containing an ortho substituent, 5J yields an estimate of the torsion angle for the thiomethyl moiety. In some instances these angles are compared with those derived from long-range 1H, 13C and 13C, 13C coupling constants. The size of the ortho substituent appears to have only a small effect on the magnitude of 5J. The major determinant of the latter appears to be the manner in which the substituent perturbs the mobile bond order of the Csp2—S bond. Key words: spin–spin coupling constants, thioanisole derivatives; 1H NMR, thioanisole derivatives; conformations, thioanisole derivatives; conformations, torsional motion of SCH3 group.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of benzyl silane and benzyl trichlorosilane, obtained in CS2 and benzene-d6 solutions, are analyzed. The long-range coupling constants between the methylene and para ring protons are used to derive apparent twofold barriers about the Csp2—Csp3 bonds of 7.4 ± 1.6 and 8.1 ± 1.1 kJ/mol for the silane and the trichlorosilane, respectively. These are higher than that for ethylbenzene and are attributed mainly to the stabilization of the perpendicular conformer, that with the C—Si bond in a plane perpendicular to the phenyl plane, by σ–π conjugation (hyperconjugation) of the C—Si bond and the π electron system. Molecular orbital computations confirm the predominantly twofold nature of the internal barrier in benzyl silane and also for benzyl germane and stannane. The calculated barriers for the silane derivatives are rather higher than the experimental values. The computed barriers have magnitudes that appear to change with X in much the same order as do the hyperconjugative interactions deduced in other ways for CH2X(CH3)3 groups (X = Sn, Ge, Si, C). The angles CCX in benzyl-X (X = CH3, SiH3, SiCl3, GeH3, SnH3) are all computed to decrease smoothly as sin2ψ, where ψ is the angle by which the C—X bond twists out of the phenyl plane. Key words: conformations, benzyl silane and trichlorosilane; NMR, benzyl silane and trichlorosilane; MO calculations, benzyl silane and trichlorosilane.

The 1H NMR spectra of the aromatic groups of 2-phenylcyclohexane and 2-phenyladamantane, in CS2/C6D12 solution at 300 K, are analyzed to yield the long-range coupling constants between the α and ring protons. The coupling over six bonds is related to the internal rotational potential about the Csp2—Csp3 bond in these molecules. It is confirmed that the equatorial isomer of phenylcyclohexane has the parallel conformer, that in which the aromatic plane lies in the symmetry plane bisecting the cyclohexane moiety, as the most stable. The apparent twofold barrier to rotation about the exocyclic carbon–carbon bond follows as 7.1 kJ/mol from the six-bond coupling constant. For 2-phenyladamantane, the six-bond coupling constant strongly implies that the perpendicular conformer, perhaps slightly skewed, is that of lowest energy and that the apparent twofold barrier to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bond is about 7.5 kJ/mol. Insofar as 2-phenyladamantane mimics axial phenylcyclohexane, these results confirm recent conclusions about the conformation of the latter and provide evidence for its internal mobility. Geometry-optimized AMI and STO-3G MO computations are reported for the internal motion in both isomers of phenylcyclohexane. The former agree best with experiment for the equatorial isomer, but both imply a significant fourfold, of opposite sign to the twofold, component of the internal rotational potential. For the axial isomer, the two sets of computations find a skewed perpendicular conformer as most stable, in rough agreement with force-field results. However, the barrier to rotation about the Csp2—Csp3 bond is computed as small and AMI has the parallel conformer as more stable than the perpendicular. Key words: 2-phenyladamantane, 1H NMR and internal rotation; phenylcyclohexane, 1H NMR and internal rotation; MO computations, 2-phenyladamantane and phenylcyclohexane.

STO-3G and 4-31G MO computations are reported for a range of values of the folding angle in xanthene, the dihedral angle between the benzene planes. Unlike 9,10-dihydroanthracene but like dibenzo-p-dioxin, its "parent" molecules, the inversion or puckering potential for xanthene is calculated to be rather flat. The molecular energies between a folding angle of 180° (planar molecule) and 120° are reproduced by analytical functions of [Formula: see text], θ being the folding angle. The long-range spin–spin coupling constants between the methylene protons and the aromatic protons at 300 K are reported for xanthene dissolved in a CS2/C6D12 solvent mixture and in acetone-d6 solution. These conformationally sensitive coupling constants are consistent with the theoretical puckering potentials and therefore with substantial "butterfly" motion at ambient temperatures. The computed geometries of xanthene are also given and briefly discussed. Keywords: xanthene, MO computations on inversion; xanthene, long-range spin–spin coupling constants; xanthene, internal motion; xanthene, inversion potentials.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral parameters of benzyl alkyl ethers (CH3, CH2CH3, CH(CH3)2, and C(CH3)3) in CS2 and acetone-d6 solutions are obtained, as are those for the 3,5-dichloro derivatives (CH3, CH2CH3, and CH(CH3)3) in acetone-d6 solution. The long-range coupling constants between the methylene and para ring protons show that the apparent twofold barrier to rotation about the [Formula: see text] bond is solvent and ring-substituent dependent. The apparent twofold barrier ranges from a vanishing value for benzyl methyl ether in CS2 solution to as much as 4.6 kJ/mol for 3,5-dichlorobenzyl isopropyl ether in acetone-d6 solution. The data imply that, for the free molecules, the conformation of highest energy has the CH2—O bond in a plane perpendicular to that of the phenyl group. Molecular orbital computations with a minimal Gaussian basis set agree that, for benzyl methyl ether in the exo form (the methyl group pointing away from the phenyl moiety), this conformation is the least stable. However, geometry optimization procedures imply that the CH2—O bond is twisted out of the ring plane by 30.3° in the most stable geometry of the exo form. Such procedures for the (distorted) endo form locate another stable conformer, in which the CH2—O bond is twisted out of the phenyl plane by 45°, only 0.25 kJ/mol less stable than the most stable conformer of the exo form. These results, together with some computations for the tert-butyl derivative, are discussed in terms of the theoretical potentials for rotation about the [Formula: see text] bond. The approximate potential surface is rather flat compared to kT at ambient temperatures for the free molecules, consistent with its sensitivity to the medium and to ring substituents. Keywords: 1H NMR, benzyl alkyl ethers; long-range coupling constants in benzyl alkyl ethers; conformations, benzyl alkyl ethers; internal motion, benzyl alkyl ethers; MO computations on benzyl methyl ether.

The parameters for the high resolution 1H and 19F NMR spectra of 2-, 3-, and 4-fluorostyrene are reported for solutions in CS2 and acetone-d6 at 300 K. The populations of the planar cis and trans conformers of 2- and 3-fluorostyrene are deduced from the long-range coupling constants involving the meta and α protons. These populations are insensitive to solvent and appear to be in reasonable agreement with previous 6-31G MO computations for the free molecule; they are also compared with populations deduced from recent rotational and vibronic spectra. The long-range coupling constants for the protons of 4-fluorostyrene imply an internal barrier to rotation about the exocyclic carbon–carbon bond very similar to that in styrene, in agreement with the 6-31G results. The signs of the coupling constants involving 19F and the protons in the side chain are reported and discussed in terms of coupling mechanisms for the three molecules. An earlier surmise, of a positive a electron contribution to the coupling constant over six bonds in an all-trans arrangement, is confirmed for the meta and trans-β protons in 3-fluorostyrene. Keywords: monofluorostyrenes, 1H and 19F NMR, conformations, long-range coupling mechanisms, MO calculations of internal barriers.

1H NMR and 13C NMR spectral data are presented for 1,2-dimethoxybenzene-α,α′-13C, as well as for a number of other anisole derivatives. For the title molecule, the coupling constants between the 13C nucleus in the side chain and the para ring proton or 13C nucleus in the benzene ring show that the expectation value of sin2 θ is very near 0.2 at 300 K, where θ is the angle by which the methoxy groups twist out of the aromatic plane. This value of [Formula: see text] is much larger than that of 0.05 for anisole in solution, emphasizing the greater conformational mobility of the methoxy groups in 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB). Long-range coupling constants between the methyl and ring protons in DMB are also discussed and compared with those in anisole and some of its derivatives. The preponderance of conformations with large values of θ, thought to occur in the vapor, disappears in solution at ambient temperatures. Under these conditions, the molecule is perhaps best described as preferring a planar conformation in which, however, the methoxy groups undergo excursions in θ whose average value is near 25°. Keywords: 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, conformational behaviour, internal mobility, long-range coupling constants, 1H and 13C NMR.

Analyses of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of 3-methoxybenzaldehyde in CS2/C6D12 and in acetone-d6 solutions at 300 K yield the values of stereospecific long-range spin–spin coupling constants for the aldehydic and methyl protons. These coupling constants are used to deduce the conformational bias for both substituents. The conformers in which the carbonyl group lies trans to the methoxy group have a population Pt, which is 0.63(2)Pc for the CS2/C6D12 solution, Pc being the population of the conformers in which the carbonyl group lies cis to the methoxy substituent; in acetone-d6 solution, Pt = 0.80(2)Pc. Both of these numbers are substantially larger than that deduced from nuclear Overhauser enhancements for a CDCl3 solution. If Pt is the fractional population of the conformers in which the methoxy is oriented trans to the aldehyde substituent, then Pt = 0.53(1)Pc in CS2/C6D12 and Pt = 0.67(1)Pc in acetone-d6, both numbers again being rather larger than that deduced from polarization experiments. STO-3G and 4-21G MO computations of the conformer stabilities agree qualitatively with the relative stabilities of the four planar conformers. Extrapolation of the populational data in solution yields vapor phase estimates midway between the two theoretical estimates. Limits can be placed on the fractional population of each of the conformers in the vapor and in the solutions. The relative stabilities of the free conformers can be rationalized in terms of electrostatics and of preferences of the carbonyl and methoxy groups for certain orientations with respect to the ring C—C bonds of highest double bond character. Keywords: 3-methoxybenzaldehyde, NMR; 3-methoxybenzaldehyde, conformations for solutions and vapor; 3-methoxybenzaldehyde, MO calculations.

The twofold barrier to rotation about the [Formula: see text] bond in benzyl fluoride is deduced from the long-range 1H,1H; 1H,19F; and 13C,19F nuclear spin–spin coupling constants in solution. The barrier changes from 3.2(2) kJ/mol in the polar solvent, acetonitrile-d3, to 0.7(2) kJ/mol in the nonpolar environment provided by cyclohexane-d12. In all solutions the conformer of greatest stability has the C—F bond in a plane perpendicular to that of the phenyl group. Extrapolation of the barrier to the vapor phase, using a simple reaction field model, indicates that the most stable conformer for the free (unclustered) molecule is now that with the C—F bond in the phenyl plane and that the barrier to internal rotation is 1.1(7) kJ/mol. Molecular orbital calculations with the basis sets STO-3G, 4-21G, 4-31G, 6-31G, and 6-31G* all predict the latter conformer as that of lowest energy. However, they disagree significantly among themselves as to the height of the internal barrier. The complete geometries are given for both conformers, as computed with the 6-31G basis, and the side-chain geometries are tabulated for the planar and perpendicular conformers, as given by all the bases. Keywords: benzyl fluoride, internal rotational potential; 13C,19F spin–spin coupling constants in benzyl fluoride; benzyl fluoride, molecular orbital computations.

Precise 1H and 19F nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts and spin–spin coupling constants are reported for 4 mol% solutions of 2-fluorobenzaldehyde (2FB) and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde (3FB) in CS2/C6D12/TMS/C6F6 and acetone-d6/TMS/C6F6 solvent mixtures at 300 K. A small amount of the O-cis conformer of 2FB is present even in the nonpolar solvent mixture, corresponding to a free energy difference of 7.6(3) kJ/mol between the planar O-cis and O-trans conformers. In the polar solvent, this number decreases to 4.5(2) kJ/mol. The O-cis and O-trans conformers of 3FB have very similar abundances in the two solvent mixtures, the former being favored by a free energy difference of 0.38(4) kJ/mol in the nonpolar medium and, unexpectedly, considering its highly polar nature, by only 0.27(4) kJ/mol in the polar environment. STO-3G MO computations, with geometry optimization, of the internal rotational potentials of 2FB and3FB confirm the planarity of the O-cis conformer of 2FB, that is, that the planar form is more stable than a somewhat twisted conformer. 6-31G MO calculations for the four planar conformers yield structures of potential use in the fitting of rotational spectra in the vapor. Extrapolation of the 1H nmr data for 2FB implies a free energy difference of 11.5 ± 0.6 kJ/mol at 300 K in the vapour favoring the O-trans form, midway between the two theoretical estimates. The present experiments and computations are compared with the latest rotational, vibrational, and electronic spectra and with other assessments of the relative conformer stabilities in the vapor and in solution. Keywords: NMR for 2- and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde; conformations in solution and vapor, for 2- and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde; MO calculations, 2- and 3-fluorobenzaldehyde.

The spin–spin coupling constant over seven bonds between the formyl and methyl protons in 4-methylbenzaldehyde is −0.030 Hz in CS2/C6D12/TMS, and (−)0.035 Hz in acetone-d6, solutions at 297 K. This unexpected result is rationalized in terms of a spin–spin coupling mechanism attributed to the importance of a valence bond structure with an ionic carbonyl bond. The result again emphasizes the sensitivity to substituent perturbations of the six-bond coupling constant in quasi-planar benzaldehyde derivatives. It can have either sign and presents a challenge to its computation from first principles.

An excellent linear correlation (r = 0.9999) exists between the spin–spin coupling constants 1J(1H,13C), in benzene dissolved in four solvents (R. Laatikainen et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117, 11006 (1995)) and Ando's solvation dielectric function, ε/(ε – 1). The solvents are cyclohexane, carbon disulfide, pyridine, and acetone. 1J(1H,13C)for gaseous benzene is predicted to be 156.99(2) Hz at 300 K. Key words: spin–spin coupling constants, 1J(1H,13C) for benzene in the vapor phase; spin–spin coupling constants, solvent dielectric constant dependence of 1J(1H,13C) in benzene; benzene, estimate of 1J(1H,13C) in the vapor; nuclear magnetic resonance, estimate of 1J(1H,13C) in gaseous benzene.