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Deuterium isotope effects as a probe of structure and conformation in cyclic carbocations

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6409951

Deuterium isotope effects on the {sup 13}C NMR chemical shifts were determined for several isotopomers of the 2-methyl-2-bicyclo(2.2.1)heptyl cation and 2-methyl-2-bicyclo(2.1.1)hexyl cation. The results indicate that the isotope shifts are not equilibrium isotope effects but rather an anomalous intrinsic isotope effect which derives from the presence of a shallow potential surface for the bending motion along the direction associated with {sigma}-bridging. The chemical shifts at C{sub 2} and the temperature dependent chemical shifts at C{sub 1}, C{sub 2}, and C{sub 3} help define shapes of potential surfaces. {beta}-Deuterium isotope effects as a function of electron demand in series of 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.2.2)octyl cations and 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.1.1)hexyl cations were also measured. These data are compared to the previously reported data for 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.2.1)heptyl cations and the reference system, 2-aryl-2-propyl cations. The {sup 13}C isotope shifts at the cation center in 2-aryl-2-bicyclo (2.2.2)octyl cations are quite similar to those in the reference system indicating the increased C{sub 3}-H(D) hyperconjugation with increased electron demand. The isotope shift behavior of the 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.1.1)hexyl cations is somewhat between the behavior of the 3-oxo-d and 3-endo-d 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.2.1)heptyl systems for nonbridging structures. The isotope shifts in 2-aryl-2-bicyclo(2.2.2)octyl cations and 2-aryl-2-bicyclo (2.1.1)hexyl cations do not give any evidence for signalling the onset of {sigma}-bridging.

Research Organization:
Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA (USA)
OSTI ID:
6409951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English