Long-range proton-carbon coupling constants: NMR methods and applications

Abstract

A general review of novel NMR methods to measure heteronuclear long-range proton-carbon coupling constants ((n)JCH; n>1) in small molecules is made. NMR experiments are classified in terms of NMR pulse scheme and cross-peak nature. A discussion about simplicity, general applicability and accuracy for each particular NMR experiment is presented and exemplified. Important aspects such as the sign determination and measurement of very small coupling values involving protonated and non-protonated carbons as well as the complementarity between different experiments are also discussed. Finally, a compilation of applications in structural and conformational analysis of different types of molecules since 2000 is surveyed.

Keywords: E.COSY; HMBC; HSQC-TOCSY; HSQMBC; IPAP; J-resolved; Long-range proton–carbon coupling constants.