The effect of substituents on geminal proton–proton coupling constants

Abstract

A series of 2-benzyloxytetrahydropyrans bearing substituents at the ortho, meta, and para positions of the benzene ring have been synthesized. From the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of each compound, the geminal coupling constant (J) between the non-equivalent protons of the benzylic methylene group was determined. The geminal coupling constant for the methylene group of several benzyl sulfoxides was also measured. In the ether series it was found that J varied from 11.1 to 13.3 c.p.s. and was directly proportional to the Hammett σ value for the meta and para substituents. In the sulfoxides, however, J was unaffected by the substituent. On the basis of the molecular orbital theory of geminal coupling constants and steric considerations, it is proposed that the sensitivity of J to the substituent effect is dependent upon the conformation of the molecules with respect to the Ar—CH2 bond. The potential utility of this relation as a method of conformational analysis is discussed.