Study of the intrinsic and conformational solvent effects on the chemical shift of the aldehydic proton in furfural and thiophenealdehyde

The chemical shifts of the aldehydic proton in furfural, thiophenealdehyde and benzaldehyde have been measured in fourteen solvents. The correlation of the chemical shifts of thiophenealdehyde and benzaldehyde is excellent (r = 0·996) while it is lower for furfural–benzaldehyde (r = 0·956). The long range coupling constant J_α5 of furiurai has been measured in twelve solvents and the rotameric mole fractions determined. The chemical shifts of individual rotamers are calculated and shown to correlate with benzaldehyde, (r = 0·992; 0·993). Only one rotamer is predominant for thiophenaldehyde in all solvents. The intrinsic solvent effects of the three aldehydes are similar.