© Copyright Hans J. Reich 2010 All Rights Reserved University of Wisconsin 5.14 A2X2, A2B2, AA'XX' and AA'BB' Spectra In A2X2 and A2B2 patterns the two A nuclei and the two X (B) nuclei are magnetically equivalent: they have the same chemical shift by symmetry, and each A proton is coupled equally to the two X (or B) protons. True A 2X2 patterns are quite rare. Both the A and X protons are identical triplets. More complicated patterns are seen when the chemical shift difference approaches or is smaller than the JAB coupling. However, both A2B2 and AABB' always give centrosymmetric patters (A2 part mirror image of the B2 part). HA HA HB HB HA FA FB S FB HA FA H FB F F FB H A2B2 υAB = 25 Hz B υAB = 70 Hz A B υAB = 200 Hz A A2X2 B 1.4 A 1.2 1.0 0.8 ppm 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 AA'XX' and AA'BB' spectra are much more common. Here each A proton is coupled differently to the B and B' protons. Some molecules with such patterns are: H F H F Br CH2 CH2 Cl Cl Cl O Cl MeO O O2N H H Cl H Cl Cl H Br OMe If the JAB coupling is identical to the JAB' coupling by accident then the system becomes A 2B2 or A2X2 5-HMR-14.1 H H H H 5.15 AA'XX' and AA'BB' Spectra JAA' = -10 JXX' = -11 JAX = 12 JAX' = 2 AA'XX' spectra consist of a maximum of two identical 10-line half spectra, each symmetrical about its midpoint, νA and νX, respectively. See example A below. |K| = |JAA' + JXX'| "J" of one ab quartet |L| = |JAX - JAX'| "δ" of both ab quartets |M| = |JAA' - JXX'| "J" of other ab quartet |N| = |JAX + JAX'| "doublet" 1.2 1.1 1.0 νA In the situation where JAX = JAX' (i.e. L = 0, A2X2) the spectrum collapses to a triplet. In other words, the effective "chemical shift" of each of the ab quartets is zero, and each gives a single line at νA. This is more or less the situation with many compounds of the X-CH2-CH2-Y type, provided that X and Y are not too large, but cause very different chemical shifts. See example C. |L| |JAA' - JXX'| |M| 2R (2P)2 - K2 (2R)2 - M2 F Si(CH3)3 H M2+L2 2R = |L| = H | | SeC(CH3)3 B | 2P K2+L2 |JAX-JAX'| = |L| = Ph | |JAA' + JXX'| |K| In the situation where JAA' = JXX' (which is often approximately the case with X-CH2-CH2-Y and p-disubstituted benzenes) the second ab quartet collapses to two lines since M = 0. See example A below. A 0.8 |JAX + JAX'| |N| Each half-spectrum consists of a 1:1 doublet (intensity 50% of the half spectrum), and two ab quartets, each with "normal" intensity ratios, and apparent couplings (Jab) of |K| and |M| as indicated. Unfortunately, K and M cannot be distinguished, the relative signs of JAA' and JXX' are not known, nor is it known which number obtained is JAA' and which is JXX'. The same ambiguity occurs for JAX + JAX'. H 0.9 C F OMs MsO 200 MHz 60 MHz 140 120 100 4.5 4.0 3.5 ppm 5-HMR-15.1 3.0 30 20 10 0 5.15 The AA'BB' Pattern As A and X of the AA'XX' spectrum move closer together, the lines of the 1:1 doublet each split into two lines, for a total of twelve in each half-spectrum. The AA' and BB' parts are no longer centrosymmetric, as for the AA'XX', but develop a mirror image relationship, so that the entire pattern is centrosymmetric. As is found for all AX to AB transformations, "leaning" occurs, the inner lines increase and the outer lines decrease in intensity. Typical molecular fragments which give AA'BB' patterns are: X HA HA' HB X HA HA' HB Y (a) AA'-Gem HB' HB (b) AA'-Vic HA HA' HB HB' R HB' Y X HA R HB' Y HA' (c) ODCB o-Dichlorobenzene (d) p-Aromatic (a) AA' Geminal (X-CH2CH2-Y). This is perhaps the most common type of AA'BB' pattern. The appearance can range from essentially perfect triplets, to rather complicated patterns which cannot be easily analyzed. The two spectral parameters which control appearance of the spectrum are νAB, and the difference between the two vicinal coupling constants JAB and JAB'. If νAB is small (AA'BB'), then the pattern will always be complicated, no matter what the coupling constants are. If JAB ≈ JAB' then the pattern will mimic A2X2/A2B2 and triplets will be seen if the the chemical shift is large enough. Changing chemical shifts while keeping coupling constants static VAB = 27.00 JAA' = 15.00 JBB' = 15.00 JAB = 7.00 JAB' = 7.00 VAB = 50.00 JAA' = 15.00 JBB' = 15.00 JAB = 7.00 JAB' = 7.00 VAB = 110.00 JAA' = 15.00 JBB' = 15.00 JAB = 7.00 JAB' = 7.00 VAB = 210.00 JAA' = 15.00 JBB' = 15.00 JAB = 7.00 JAB' = 7.00 250 200 150 Hz 5-HMR-15.2 100 50 0 The key feature that determines the complexity of AA'BB' patterns is the relative size of JAB and JAB', which is determined by the conformational properties of the X-CH 2CH2-Y fragment. For acyclic systems, if the X and/or Y groups are small, then the populations of the anti and gauche conformations will be close to statistical (1:2). As can be seen from the table and the simulated spectra below, the two averaged couplings become approximately equal when there is 67% of gauche isomer, and the spectrum will mimic an A 2B2 pattern -- triplets if νAB is large enough (νAB >> JAB). If X and Y are large, then the anti isomer will be favored and the pattern will be more complex. In practice, adjacent CH2 groups often look like triplets, and thus the gauche conformation must usually be favored. For cyclic systems (e.g., N-cyanomorpholine) the ring constrains the -CH 2CH2- fragment to mostly the gauche conformation, and clean triplets are not usually seen. %anti %gauche The coupling constants were calculated using the simple Karplus equations below: 100 0 JAB = 2.3 JAB' = 12 JΘ = Jo cos2 Θ Jo = 12 Hz for Θ > 90° Jo = 9 Hz for Θ < 90° JAA' = JBB' = -13 Hz JAB = 3.2 Y HB' HA HA' Z HB HB' Y Y HB' HB Z HA' HB gauche gauche anti 20 JAB' = 10.1 60 40 JAB = 4.2 HA HA HA' Z 80 JAB' = 8.1 JAB = 5.5 CN 33 67 N JAB' = 5.5 O 300 MHz (CDCl3) Source: ASV JAB = 6.2 JAB' = 4.2 20 80 Line width = 1.5 Hz 3.8 3.6 ppm 3.4 3.2 0 100 JAB = 7.1 JAB' = 2.3 It is a common misconception that the equalization of coupling constants (and hence the appearance of triplets) is a consequence of free rotation around the CH 2-CH2 bond. In fact, there is free rotation around almost all such bonds in acyclic molecules at accessible temperatures. The appearance of more complicated patterns is the result of a preference for the anti conformation over the gauche (or vice versa), and has nothing to do with the rate of rotation. New 35-01 5-HMR-15.3 X AA'BB' Spectra X-CH2-CH2-Y A A' B' B Y Br Br-CH2-CH2-Cl 60 MHz 200 MHz δ 3.4 δ 3.1 Ph O O 100 MHz O OMe H 100MHz 3.5 3.0 H 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 SeC(CH3)3 Ph PhS Si(CH3)3 H 200 MHz SeCH3 200 MHz 2.2 2.1 0.7 0.6 0.5 5-HMR-15.4 2.7 2.6 2.5 (b) AA' Vicinal. This type of AA'BB' pattern is much less common than type (a). It appears principally in 1,1disubstituted cyclopropanes, 2,2-disubstituted-1,3-dioxolanes and other similar structures. The patterns are rarely if ever triplets because JAB is invariably quite different from JAB'. HA X HA' HA HB' Y HA' X O Y O HB HBH B' O O 100 MHz 100 MHz 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 1.2 0.4 1.0 0.8 Br O O 200 MHz 4.0 3.9 3.8 270 MHz 3.7 4.0 3.9 O 3.8 O Br C 200 MHz 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 5-HMR-15.5 3.9 3.8 (c) o-Dichlorobenzene (ODCB) Type. This kind of AA'BB' pattern is often very complex because JAB (ortho coupling) is usually much larger than JAB' (meta coupling). It is seen in symmetrically 1,4-disubstituted dienes and ortho disubstituted benzenes. Note that for all AA'BB' systems the A and B patterns are identical (although they have a mirror-image relationship). This is in spite of the fact that the coupling relationships are often quite different, seen in the molecules on thi page. HA HB 300 MHz, CDCl3 HB' HA' 7.9 7.8 7.7 ppm 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 Cl S 300 MHz, CDCl3 300 MHz, CDCl3 Cl 7.5 7.4 ppm 7.3 7.2 7.3 7.1 H H H H 7.0 6.8 7.2 6.6 7.35 HA HA' HA HX' 7.0 HX 6.8 2.10 OAc 2.13 5.95 H 100 MHz 7.2 HX 7.1 H H 100 MHz AcO 7.2 Ph Ph Ph Ph H ppm 60 MHz OAc AcO (HX shown) JOC-68-2835 60 MHz 7.10 5.87 HX' HA' (HX shown) JOC-68-2835 JAX = 12.5 JAX' = -0.7 JXX' = 11.5 JAA' = 0.8 JAX = 6.7 JAX' = -1.3 JXX' = 11.0 JAA' = 1.6 6.3 6.1 5.9 ppm 5.7 6.0 5.8 ppm 5.6 Rev 40-01 5-HMR-15.6 (d) p-Disubstituted Benzene Type. These usually resemble an AB quartet, with extra lines and additional splitting. When the chemical shift between A and B becomes small (as in p-bromochlorobenzene below), then the extra lines become more pronounced. Br 60 MHz Cl 7.5 7.4 7.3 S 7.2 7.1 S MeO OMe 300 MHz (CDCl3) 7.4 7.3 7.2 ppm 7.1 7.0 6.9 6.8 (d) Miscellaneous. Here the 4JHH (AA' and AB')are large enough that the expected first-order AB quartet is not seen, but the more complicated pattern shown HA HB Ph OH Ph HA' HB' Reich (Wesley) 3.40 3.35 3.10 3.05 Rev 39-05 5-HMR-15.7 Origin of Complexity in Patterns of the AA'XX'... Type There are two situations where spin systemes containing AA'XX' type do not show unusual complexity. One is where JAX = JAX', in which case the pattern becomes first order A 2X2. The second is systems in which there is no coupling between both of the chemical shift equivalent protons, i.e., JAA' = JXX' = 0. In such cases the degeneracy between spin states is no longer present, and first order systems result. Consider two examples. A monosubstituted benzene is nn AA'BB'C or AA'MM'X system. A simulated spectrum is shown below R HA HA' HM HM' HX JAM = JA'M' = 7 JMX = JM'X = 7 JAA' = 2 JMM' = 2 JAX = JA'X = 2.0 JAM' = JA'M = 0.5 2.04 2.04 1.00 Simulation 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 ppm If we recalculate the spectrum after setting JAA' =0 and JMM' = 0 then the spectrum becomes essentially first order (it would be completely first order if the chemical shifts between A, M and X were made larger). Simulation 2.5 JAA' = 0 JMM' = 0 2.0 1.5 ppm 1.0 0.5 For this reason, some spin systems which are formally of the AA'XX' type, but in which there is no spin-spin coupling between the equivalent protons show first order spectra. For example, the fairly common spin system below of the AA'BB'X type shows no unusual complexity (beyond that of normal ABX patterns) because there is no coupling between the AA' and BB' protons. HA HB HA' HB' R R R' HX 5-HMR-15.8 Contrast this with the AA'MM'XX' system below. In this case, although there is no significant coupling between A and A' or M and M', there is coupling between X and X', making the whole system a highly second order one. O O HA HM' S HA' HM Br HX' HX Br HX δA = 3.7 JAM = JA'M' = -13 δB = 4.03 JMX = JM'X' = 5 δX = 4.40 JAA' = 0 JMM' = 0 JAX = JA'X' = 8.0 JAM' = JA'M = 0 JXX' = 6 Simulated spectrum HM HA JXX' = 6 Hz 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 If we remove the XX' coupling, the system becomes essentially first order (two isolated AMX patterns). We could better describe it as an (AMX)2 rather than an AA'MM'XX' spin system. Simulated spectrum JXX' = 0 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 Actual Spectrum 250 MHz, CDCl3 4.85 4.80 Hz 4.75 4.10 4.05 4.00 Hz 5-HMR-15.9 3.95 3.60 3.55 Hz 3.50 Note the extra peaks - these are not impurities or bad tuning. The additional complexity arises because we have an AA'BB'XX' system here. Even though only X and X' are significantly coupled, the AB signals are complicated 300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3. Source:Charlie Fry/Reich O A MeO OMe B X' X B' MeO OMe A' O 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 ppm AA'BB'XX' This is also an AA'BB' system 6.8 6.7 ppm 8.00 3.45 6.17 5.80 3.40 ppm 3.35 3.90 2.11 8 7 6 5 4 3 ppm 5-HMR-15.10 2 1 0