Rotational barrier energy studies to date have focused on the amide bond of aromatic compounds from a kinetic perspective using quantum calculations and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). These studies provide valuable information, not only regarding the basic conformational properties of amide bonds but also the molecular gear system, which has recently gained interest. Thus, we investigate the precise motion of the amide bonds of two aromatic compounds using an experimental rotational barrier energy estimation by NMR experiments and a theoretical evaluation of the density functional theory calculation. The theoretical potential energy surface scan method combined with the quadratic synchronous transit 3 method and consideration of additional functional group rotation with optimization and frequency calculations support the results of the variable temperature ¹H NMR, with deviations of less than 1 kcal/mol. This detailed experimental and theoretical research strongly supports molecular gear motion in the aromatic amide system, and the difference in kinetic energy indicates that the electronic effect from the aromatic structure has a key role in conformational movements at different temperatures. Our study provides an enhanced basis for future amide structural dynamics research.
Keywords: amide bond; density functional theory; kinetic; nuclear magnetic resonance; rotational barrier energy.