Information from stereospecific spin–spin couplings about the relative absorptivities of the hydroxyl stretching bands in 2-iodophenol solutions

Abstract

The stereospecific spin–spin coupling constants between the hydroxyl proton and the ring protons for 2-iodophenol in various solvents yield some free energy differences between the cis and trans conformations of this molecule at 305 K. Comparison with areas of the hydroxyl stretching bands in the same or similar solvents shows that the ratio of the absorptivity coefficients for the two conformers is sensitive to solvent. It is suggested that this ratio is temperature dependent and therefore apparent enthalpy differences must be considered tentative for at least some solutions. Molecular orbital calculations are consistent with the arguments concerning the absorptivity coefficients.