Nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of the ring conformations of monosubstituted derivatives of 1,3-dioxa-5,6-benzocycloheptene

Abstract

The conformational properties of 2-alkyl (Me, Et, i-Pr, and t-Bu) and 2-phenyl derivatives of 1,3-dioxa-5,6-benzocycloheptene (1) were studied by 13C dnmr. Analysis of slow exchange spectra at 100.6 MHz indicates that all derivatives except tert-butyl exist in an equilibrium of chair (major) and twist-boat (minor) conformations. Substituent effects on the position of the equilibrium are rationalized in terms of steric effects.