Assignments of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of pseudo-symmetric heterocyles using the HMQC-TOCSY experiment to differentiate overlapping spin systems

The ¹H nmr spectra of phenanthro9′,10′:4,5]thieno2,3-c]quinoline, benzof]phenanthro-9′,10′:4,5]thieno2,3-c]quinoline and benzoh]phenanthro9′,10′:4,5]thieno2,3-c]quinoline are highly congested. For each compound, all protons abide in an aromatic environment complicated by pseudo-symmetric regions which result in multiple overlap of the different spin systems these molecules contain. We illustrate here the utility of the HMQC-TOCSY experiment to identify spin systems when the proton spectrum is highly congested. To complete the assignment of the ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra of each compound the HMBC experiment is used to assign the quaternary carbons.