Conformational studies of some 2-phenylpropyl derivatives by NMR spectroscopy and use of lanthanide shift reagents

The conformational distribution of CH₃CH(Ph)CH₂X (X = OH, OCH₃, NH₂ Cl) has been studied by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The results are interpreted in favour of the conformers with methoxy- or chloro-groups anti to the phenyl group, but the amino group anti to the methyl group. For the alcohol both forms are about equally populated. It is suggested that intra-molecular hydrogen bonding might be affecting the conformational equilibria when X = OH, NH₂.