Conformation of ring A in triterpenoid and 4,4-dimethylsteroid 3-ketones. Chemical shifts of methyl protons and lanthanide and benzene induced shifts

Abstract

Chemical shifts of signals due to methyl groups in position 10β (in CDCl3) and 4α and 4β (in C6D6) in 1H NMR spectra of pentacyclic triterpene 3-oxo derivatives (V, VIII, IX, and XII) are suitable for estimation of chair-boat equilibrium in the ring A. Benzene and lanthanide induced shifts of 4α and 4β-methyl protons were also used for this purpose. The results obtained with 2α-methyl-3-ketones (III, X) and 2β-methyl-3-ketones (IV, XI) as the respective chair and boat models agree well with those derived from other physical data (about 40% boat). The same methods were applied to 4,4-dimethylsteroid 3-ketones XV-XVII.