1H NMR determines hydrogen environments

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy is a technique that provides detailed information about the different environments of hydrogen atoms within an organic molecule.

In a ¹H NMR spectrum:

• Each peak represents a set of chemically equivalent hydrogen atoms, which is referred to as a hydrogen environment.
• The peak area is proportional to the number of hydrogen atoms in that environment.
• The position of the peak on the chemical shift scale helps identify the type of hydrogen atom present.

For example, the ¹H NMR spectrum of ethanal, shown above, displays:

• 2 peaks, indicating two different environments for the protons.
• Peak areas in a 3:1 ratio, corresponding to the number of protons in each environment.

Chemical shift ranges help assign peaks

The chemical shift (δ) value of each peak specifies its exact position.

This value, measured in parts per million (ppm), can help identify the hydrogen environment:

For example, in the ¹H NMR spectrum of ethanal shown above:

• The peak at δ 2.2 ppm is indicative of CH₃-, aligning with CH₃CHO.
• The peak at δ 9.8 ppm corresponds to -CHO, further confirming CH₃CHO.

Spin-spin coupling

Spin-spin coupling among adjacent hydrogen atoms results in the splitting of NMR peaks into sub-peaks. This effect occurs only between hydrogens on neighbouring carbons. Spin-spin coupling patterns reveal the number of non-equivalent protons on adjacent carbon atoms.

The formula for determining the number of peaks in a split signal is the n+1 rule:

For a proton with n protons attached to an adjacent carbon atom, the number of sub-peaks in a splitting pattern = n + 1

This rule adds another layer of structural detail:

For example, in the ¹H NMR spectrum of ethanal shown above:

• The peak at δ 2.2 ppm due to H^a is a doublet because there's one hydrogen on the adjacent carbon atom.
• The peak at δ 9.8 ppm due to H^b is a quartet because there are three hydrogens on the adjacent carbon atom.

Worked example 1 - Identifying the structure of an unknown molecule

Using the molecular formula C₃H₆O and the ¹H NMR spectrum provided below, determine the structure of the unknown molecule.

Step 1: Count signals

The presence of three distinct signals indicates three sets of magnetically non-equivalent hydrogen atoms in the molecule.

Step 2: Deduce environments from chemical shifts

• The triplet at δ 1.2 ppm suggests a methyl group (CH₃) adjacent to a CH₂ group.
• The quartet at δ 2.4 ppm suggests a CH₂ group adjacent to a methyl group.
• The singlet at δ 11.7 ppm is characteristic of the acidic hydrogen (H) of a carboxylic acid.

Step 3: Consider the molecular formula

Given the molecular formula C₃H₆O₂ and the signal patterns observed, the compound likely contains a carboxylic acid functional group, as indicated by the very downfield singlet at δ 11.7 ppm.

Step 4: Match environments to potential structures

Considering the NMR signal characteristics:

• The methyl group (CH₃) giving rise to the triplet at δ 1.2 ppm suggests it is next to a CH₂ group, which in turn shows as a quartet at δ 2.4 ppm due to splitting by the three hydrogen atoms of the methyl group.
• The singlet at δ 11.7 ppm clearly indicates the presence of the acidic hydrogen of the carboxylic acid group.

The structure that fits these criteria is propanoic acid, where the methyl group is responsible for the signal at δ 1.2 ppm, the CH₂ group adjacent to the carboxylic acid gives rise to the signal at δ 2.4 ppm, and the carboxylic acid proton is responsible for the singlet at δ 11.7 ppm.

Therefore, the unknown molecule is identified as propanoic acid.

Worked example 2 - Identifying the structure of an unknown molecule

Using the molecular formula C₄H₈O₂ and the ¹H NMR spectrum provided below, determine the structure of the unknown molecule.

Step 1: Count signals

The presence of three distinct signals indicates three sets of magnetically non-equivalent hydrogen atoms in the molecule.

Step 2: Deduce environments from chemical shifts

• The triplet at δ 1.3 ppm suggests a methyl group (CH₃) adjacent to a CH₂ group.
• The singlet at δ 2.0 ppm is characteristic of hydrogen atom(s) on a carbon without neighbouring hydrogen atoms, commonly associated with the carbonyl group in esters or ketones.
• The quartet at δ 4.1 ppm is characteristic of a CH₂ group adjacent to a methyl group, often observed in esters linked directly to oxygen.

Step 3: Consider the molecular formula

Given the molecular formula C₄H₈O₂ and the signal patterns observed, the compound likely contains a functional group that accounts for the oxygen atoms, such as an ester, given the absence of NMR signals typical for hydroxyl (OH) or carboxylic acid (COOH) protons.

Step 4: Match environments to potential structures

Considering the NMR signal characteristics:

• The methyl group (CH₃) giving rise to the triplet at δ 1.3 ppm suggests it is next to a CH₂ group, which in turn shows as a quartet at δ 4.1 ppm due to splitting by the three hydrogen atoms of the methyl group. This CH₂ group is likely attached to an oxygen atom, as indicated by its chemical shift.
• The singlet at δ 2.0 ppm can be attributed to the CH₃ group attached to the carbonyl carbon, characteristic of esters.

The structure that fits all these criteria is ethyl ethanoate, where the ethyl (CH₃CH₂-) part is responsible for the triplet and quartet, and the ethanoate (CH₃COO-) part accounts for the singlet.

Therefore, the unknown molecule is identified as ethyl ethanoate.