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If you want to identify equivalent protons in a molecule, it is important to
come up with an exact idea of its spatial structure.
Here is an example: All atoms of p-bromo-nitrobenzene are in one plane.
There are now two possible approaches to identify equivalent protons:
a) Using a specific proton as a reference point, characterize the remainder of the
molecule. In the case of H-2, for example, the other substituents are:
- With H-2 as the reference point:
- ortho-substituents at the benzene ring: Br- and H-3
- meta-substituents at the benzene ring: H-6 and NO2-
- para-substituents at the benzene ring: H-5
Now you can compare this set of relationships with the ones for each of the
of the other protons.
- With H-6 as a reference point:
- ortho-substituents at the benzene ring: H-5 and Br-
- meta-substituents at the benzene ring: NO2- and H-2
- para-substituents at the benzene ring: H-3
H-2 and H-6 show similar relationships to the substitutents, which means
that they are equivalent
b) Look for symmetry elements that define the molecule, such as mirror
symmetries, rotational symmetries or combinations of the two.
As a case in point, the molecule in this example has a two-fold rotational
symmetry with a rotational axis
C2 through the Br and N atoms:
Through a l80° rotation around this axis
H-2 is placed on H-6 and vice versa, and
H-3 is placed on H-5 and vice versa.
That means that H-2 and H-6 as well as H-3 and H-5 are equivalent.
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Now go back and determine the number of equivalent protons and the number
of NMR signals in the following molecules:
Check your solutions here! |
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