Measurement of Magnitude and Sign of Heteronuclear Coupling Constants in Transition Metal Complexes

Sets of specifically tailored E.COSY-type correlation experiments and double-quantum/zero-quantum (DQ/ZQ) experiments are presented which enable the determination of sign and size of small heteronuclear coupling constants across the metal center of transition metal complexes. For the octahedrally coordinated complexes, Ru(TPM)(H)(CO)(PPh₃)]⁺BF₄]⁻(1) and Ir(TPM)(H)(CO)(CO₂CH₃)]⁺BF₄]⁻(2), 14 of 15 and 15 of 15 possible two-bond scalar coupling constants across the metal center were measured, respectively, using¹⁵N and¹⁵N/¹³C enriched samples (TPM = tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane)). The reduced coupling constants²K_X-M-Y= 4π²²J/(hγ_Xγ_Y) were found to be positive when the coupled nuclei X and Y weretranswith respect to the metal center, and negative when the coupled nuclei were incisposition. The validity of this sign rule was verified forJ_CC,J_NN,J_PN,J_PC,J_CN,J_HP,J_HC, andJ_HNcouplings. Idiosyncracies associated with 2D NMR spectra for the sign determination of coupling constants with¹⁵N which lead to corrections for the signs ofJ_HN,J_PN, andJ_CNcouplings reported previously are discussed.