5J(CH3,SH) as a negative proximate or as a positive σ−π coupling in 2-methylthiophenol derivatives

Abstract

Analyses of the 1H nmr spectra of 6-chloro-2-methylthiophenol and of 4-tert-butyl-2-methylthiophenol in CCl4 solution, together with double irradiation experiments, show that 5J(CH5,SH) in the former compound is −0.66 Hz and is +0.47 Hz in the latter. In the chloro compound, the sulfhydryl group spends relatively little time in out-of-plane conformations at 300 K. The negative coupling is a consequence of a through-space or proximate coupling mechanism. In the other compound, the sulfhydryl group samples many out-of-plane conformations but relatively few in which the S—H bond lies near the methyl group. Therefore 5J(CH3,SH) is now dominated by a σ−π electron mechanism and is positive. Probably by coincidence, 4J(H,SH) in this compound is equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to 5J(CH3,SH).