Strongly hindered rotation in α,α,2,6-terrachlorotoluene. Stereospecific five-bond coupling. Hyperconjugative contributions to long-range sidechain-ring proton coupling constants

Abstract

At −40 °C the C—H bond of the dichloromethyl group of α,α,2,6-tetrachlorotoluene lies in the plane of the ring. The proton resonance spectrum demonstrates a stereospecific five-bond coupling between the C—H proton and the ring proton in the meta position. The coupling to the para proton is essentially zero as expected from a hyperconjugative mechanism. The free energy of activation of rotation of the dichloromethyl group is about 15 kcal/mole at 25 °C.