Manifestation of stereoelectronic effects on the calculated carbon-hydrogen bond lengths and one-bond 1J(C-H) NMR coupling constants. Relative acceptor ability of the carbonyl (C=O), thiocarbonyl (C=S), and methylidene (C=CH2) groups toward C-H donor bonds.

Abstract

Theoretical examination [B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), PP/IGLO-III//B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), and NBO methods] of six-membered cyclohexane 1 and carbonyl-, thiocarbonyl-, or methylidene-containing derivatives 2-27 afforded precise structural (in particular, C-H bond distances) and spectroscopic (specifically, one-bond (1)J(C)(-)(H) NMR coupling constants) data that show the consequences of stereoelectronic hyperconjugative effects in these systems. Major observations include the following. (1) sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() -->(C)(=)(Y) and pi(C)(=)(Y) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() (Y = O, S, or CH(2)) hyperconjugation leads to a shortening (strengthening) of the equatorial C-H bonds adjacent to the pi group. This effect is reflected in smaller (1)J(C)(-)(H)(ax)() coupling constants relative to (1)J(C)(-)(H)(eq)(). (2) Comparison of the structural and spectroscopic consequences of sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() --> pi(C)(=)(Y) hyperconjugation in cyclohexanone 2, thiocyclohexanone 3, and methylenecyclohexane 4 suggests a relative order of acceptor orbital ability C=S > C=O > C=CH(2), which is in line with available pK(a) data. (3) Analysis of the structural and spectroscopic data gathered for heterocyclic derivatives 5-12 reveals some additivity of sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() --> pi(C)(=)(Y), pi(C)(=)(Y) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)(), n(X) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)(), n(beta)(O) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(eq)(), and sigma(S)(-)(C) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(eq)() stereoelectronic effects that is, nevertheless, attenuated by saturation effects. (4) Modulation of the C=Y acceptor character of the exocyclic pigroup by conjugation with alpha-heteroatoms O, N, and S in lactones, lactams, and methylidenic analogues 13-24 results in decreased sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() --> pi(C)(=)(Y) and pi(C)(=)(Y) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() hyperconjugation. (5) Additivity of sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() --> pi(C)(=)(Y) and pi(C)(=)(Y) --> sigma(C)(-)(H)(ax)() hyperconjugative effects is also apparent in 1,3-dicarbonyl derivative 25 (C=Y equal to C=O), 1,3-dithiocarbonyl derivative 26 (C=Y equal to C=S), and 1,3-dimethylidenic analogue 27 (C=Y equal to C=CH(2)).