Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. Part 48. Conformational preferences and stereomutational processes of the rotational enantiomers of hindered naphthylimines and imonium salts

Abstract

A number of 1-naphthylimines (and some of the corresponding imonium chlorides), having the isopropyl group as a prochiral probe, have been synthesized and their configurations assigned by the combined use of NOE experiments and molecular mechanics calculations. This method also provides reliable information about the conformations adopted in solution. The existence of diastereotopic methyl groups in the isopropyl moiety indicates the presence of conformational enantiomers, due to the rotation about the naphthyl–imino bond in nonplanar conformers. The barriers for the stereomutation of such enantiomeric forms have been determined by line-shape analysis of the temperature-dependent ¹H or ¹³C signals of the prochiral probe. Molecular mechanics calculations have also helped in suggesting which is the preferred stereomutation pathway and in predicting the existence of a derivative having configurationally stable enantiomers. Such a compound has been synthesized and is found to display the predicted property (atropisomerism), in that the two enantiomers can be separated.