Investigation of the correlations between 19F and 1H NMR signals for various mono‐ and di‐substituted octafluoro[2.2]paracyclophanes

A selection of mono‐ and pseudo ortho di‐substituted octafluoro2.2]paracyclophane derivatives were analyzed using ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY, ¹H COSY and ¹⁹F COSY techniques. This resulted in the unambiguous assignment of the ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR resonances, and also revealed interesting solvent effects and noteworthy coupling patterns for various J_HH, J_HF, and J_FF interactions, including observable through bond ⁷J_FF and ⁸J_FF couplings. For the four mono‐substituted derivatives, the assignments were achieved through the combination of ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY, ¹H COSY and ¹⁹F COSY techniques. The C₂ symmetry of the six pseudo ortho di‐substituted derivatives that were examined produced simplified spectra, and careful inspection of the characteristic ¹H coupling patterns led to the assignment of ¹H signals. Therefore only ¹⁹F‐¹H HOESY experiments were required to complete the assignments for those molecules. Refinements and alternative strategies for previous protocols are presented for the molecules that were less responsive to nuclear Overhauser effect (nOe) experiments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.