© Copyright Hans J.

Reich 2017
All Rights Reserved
University of Wisconsin
5. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

5-HMR-0 The NMR Experiment

5-HMR-1 Integration of Proton NMR Spectra
5-HMR-2 Chemical Shift
5-HMR-2.3 Calculation of Proton Chemical Shifts
5-HMR-2.6 Proton Chemical Shift Effects
5-HMR-2.8 Magnetic Anisotropy of Functional Groups
5-HMR-2.12 Aromatic Solvent Induced Shifts (ASIS)
5-HMR-2.23 Exchangeable protons (NH, OH, SH)
5-HMR-3 Spin-Spin Splitting - J-Coupling
5-HMR-3.7 Rules for Analyzing First Order Multiplets
5-HMR-3.14 Measurement of Coupling Constants
5-HMR-4.1 Geminal Proton-Proton Couplings (2JH-H)
5-HMR-5.1 Vicinal Proton-Proton Couplings (3JH-H) (Karplus)
5-HMR-5.3 Determination of Stereochemistry in Cyclic Compounds Using 3JH-H
5-HMR-5.10 Acyclic Stereochemistry Using 3JH-H
5-HMR-5.12 Allylic 3JHH
5-HMR-5.13 Olefinic 3JHH
5-HMR-6 Long-Range (4J and higher) Proton-Proton Couplings
5-HMR-7 Pople Nomenclature for Coupled Spin Systems
5-HMR-8 Symmetry in NMR Spectra - Homotopic, Enantiotopic, Diastereotopic
5-HMR-9 Second Order Effects in Coupled Systems
5-HMR-10 AX and AB Spectra
5-HMR-11 AX2 and AB2 Patterns
5-HMR-12 ABX Pattern
5-HMR-12.4 Solving an ABX Pattern
5-HMR-12.12 A Simple ABX Pattern as νAB is Changed
5-HMR-12.13 Effect of Relative Sign of JAX and JBX on ABX Patterns
5-HMR-12.14 ABX with Accidental Coincidences
5-HMR-12.16 ABX of the Vinyl type
5-HMR-12.17 ABX Going to ABC
5-HMR-12-19 ABXYZ Patterns
5-HMR-13 ABX3 Patterns
5-HMR-14 AA'XX' Spectra
5-HMR-15 AA'BB' Spectra
5-HMR-16 Virtual Coupling

5-HMR-0.1
 5.0 The NMR Experiment
Nuclear Properties
We are used to thinking of chemical properties in terms of elements (atomic number). For nuclear properties we
have to think in terms of isotopes (mass number) - different isotopes of the same element have different nuclear
properties. The main nuclear property we are interested in connection with NMR is the nuclear angular momentum
spin quantum number I, the "spin" of the nucleus.

I = 0 no spin, the nucleus has no magnetic moment and no NMR properties

I > 0 the nucleus has spin (I = 1/2, 1, 3/2, 2, etc) and a magnetic dipole µ, and thus may be suitable for NMR
observation.
x even 12 16 32
Ny Neven I=0 C6 O8 S16
odd
x = mass number Neither I = 1/2 1H1, 13
C6, 15N7, 19
F9, 31P15
y = atomic number 7
I = 3/2, 5/2, etc Li3 (3/2), 11B5 (3/2)
even
Nodd I = 1, 2, 3, etc 6Li3 (1), 14N7 (1), 2H1 (1),
Nuclei with I = 1/2 have especially advantageous NMR properties, and the vast majority of all NMR experiments
are done with such isotopes.
Nuclei with I > 0 have angular momentum P (spinning mass) whose direction is the spin axis. The angular
momentum is quantized, and can only have one value:
h
P = I (I + 1) 2π
Nuclei with I > 0 also have a magnetic dipole µ (spinning charge). For the NMR experiment it is the ratio of µ to P
that matters (much in the way that m/e is what matters in mass spectrometry). We define γ, the gyromagnetic
ratio:
µ
γ =
P

Interaction of Nuclei with a Magnetic Field

When we place a nucleus with spin in a magnetic field the nuclei tend to align with the field. The observable
component of the angular momentum Pz is also quantized, and can only have the following values:

h where m is the magnetic quantum number which can

Pz = m
2π have the values I, I - 1, I - 2, ... -I
Quantum restrictions prevent the nuclei from aligning exactly with Bo, since both the angular momentum (P) and
the observable component (Pz) are quantized. For spin ½ nuclei there is a tip angle of 54.7°.
z
cos (Θ) = Pz/P = 1/ 3
There are 2I + 1 allowed
B0 For m = +½ Θ = 54.74° orientations of the nucleus in the
Pz Θ P For m = -½ Θ = 125.26° magnetic field
y For I = 1, m = 1 Θ = 45°, m = 0 Θ = 90°, m = -1 Θ = 135°
x
The nuclei precess around the direction of Bo, with a frequency νo (Larmor precession frequency). The
frequency is a function of the magnetic field strength (Bo), the angular momentum and the magnetic dipole
(Gyromagnetic ratio γ).
γBo
νo =
2π

5-HMR-0.1
Interaction with Radiofrequency
A radiofrequency (at the Larmor precession frequency ν0) applied in the x-direction causes transitions between the
spin states if νRF = νo. These transitions are detected by the spectrometer and plotted as an NMR spectrum.

The NMR Spectrometer

An NMR spectrometer consists of a powerful magnet, and the associated electronics to control the properties of
the magnet and create and detect radiofrequency signals. In the first spectrometers (up to 60 MHz proton
frequency) permanent magnets were used, then electromagnets (to 100 MHz), and now most spectrometers use
superconducting magnets to achieve field strengths which give proton resonances from 200 to as high as 900 MHz.
The magnetic field must be very stable over a period of hours and very homogeneous over the sample volume
(better than 1 part in 109). A complex array of tuning coils is mounted in the magnet and probe to correct for
magnetic field inhomogeneities. The radiofrequency generators (at least two are required) must also be very stable,
and capable of providing frequencies accurate to 1 part in 109, and with short (microsecond range) very accurately
timed pulses. All of these very stringent requirements, together with the inherent insensitivity of the NMR
experiment, mean that NMR spectrometers have very complex electronics and are hence the most expensive of all
common analytic devices used by chemists, running from $100K to $3M (physicists, of course, use analytic devices
that cost billions of dollars).

At the heart of an NMR spectrometer is the probe, which is a removable cylinder inserted into the center of the
magnet. The probe contains: the sample tube holder and air spinner outlets; the radiofrequency coils for signal
detection, decoupler irradiation, and locking of the magnetic field; the electronics, dewar, gas inlets and outlets for
cooling and heating of the sample; the tuning coils for fine adjustments of the magnetic field, as well as (in advanced
probes) coils for producing precise field gradients. The very latest probes have the electronics for signal detection
cooled to liquid nitrogen or liquid helium temperatures (cryoprobes) to provide substantially improved sensitivity (at a
factor of 10 increase in cost). Just an ordinary probe can cost more than a low-end IR or UV spectrometer, and a
cryoprobe alone can cost as much as an entire mass spectrometer or X-ray diffraction instrument.

1/40
5-HMR-0.2
Detection of NMR Signals

The first generation of NMR spectrometers detected the NMR signals in much the same way as was done for the
earlier spectroscopic methods such as IR and UV/VIS - the instrument scans through the frequency region of
interest (or keeps the frequency constant and scans the magnetic field, a technically easier process used in the first
spectrometers). When there is a frequency match (resonance: νRF = νo) the transitions are detected by the coils in
the spectrometer probe, and, after signal processing, are plotted as an NMR spectrum.
Advances in microwave electronics made possible a much more efficient way of detecting NMR signals in which
frequencies are not scanned, but instead a very short powerful pulse is applied to the sample. The pulse is short
enough that its frequency is not well defined to within a few thousand Hertz, so it interacts with all of the nuclei of one
isotope in the sample. The pulse duration is accurately specified so that the precession of the nuclei around the
axis of the pulse corresponds to a well defined angle (say 90 degrees).

Spin ½ nuclei in magnetic field B0

z z z
z

very short
B0 time 90° pulse time
x´ x´ x´ x´
T1 (apply magnetic
y´ y´ field for a short time y´ y´
in y´ direction)

Top:
Note the population difference
x´ (GREATLY exaggerated) between x´
the aligned and anti-aligned
nuclei
y´ y´
Bottom:
After the 90° pulse the population
difference in +z and -z directions
x´ has been converted into population x´
difference in the +x and -x
directions.
Net Magnetization Vector
z z z

This net magnetization in the

x-y plane creates a fluctuation
radiofrequency signal that can
x´ x´ be detected. x´

y´ y´ y´

The pulse rotates the excess magnetization (resulting from the higher population of magnetic nuclei in the more
stable orientation aligned with the magnetic field Bo) from the z-direction to the x-y plane. This magnetization vector
rotates around the x-y plane at the Larmor precession frequency. The fluctuating magnetic field produced by these
nuclei is detected by the spectrometer. Each set of nuclei with a distinct chemical shift in the sample has its own
precession frequency (the chemical shift), and the spectrometer detects the sum of all of these oscillations (the Free
Induction Decay, or FID). The FID is then mathematically manipulated (Fourier transformation) to detect the
individual frequencies, which are plotted as a spectrum.

5-HMR-0.3 1/43
Chemical Shift
Circulation of electrons around the nucleus creates local magnetic fields which shield the nucleus from the
external field Bo. The extent of shielding depends on the local chemical environment. Thus NMR signals show a
chemical shift. The first NMR spectrometers used continuous wave detection, initially by using a magnetic field
sweep to scan through the spectrum (a technically simpler process), later frequency sweep electronics were
developed. All modern spectrometers use pulse techniques to detect NMR spectra.

Frequency sweep H2
7.012987 T 7.02000 T
300,003,000 Hz 300,000,000 Hz H1
H2 H1
m = -½ (β) Field sweep
E

0 Bo
Chemical shift is
m = +½ (α) greatly exaggerated

12 10 8 6 4 2 0
δ (ppm)
Proton NMR spectrum at 7.02 T (300 MHz)

The Larmour precession frequency νo depends on the magnetic field strength. Thus at a magnet strength of 1.41
Tesla protons resonate at a frequency of 60 MHz, at 2.35 Tesla at 100 MHz, and so on. Although Hz are the
fundamental energy unit of NMR spectroscopy, the use of Hz has the disadvantage that the position of a peak is
dependent on the magnetic field strength. This point is illustrated by the spectra of 2-methyl-2-butanol shown below
at several different field strengths, plotted at a constant Hz scale.

Plotted on the same Hz scale c

CH3 b a
c
CH3 C CH2 CH3
OH
d Me4Si
220 MHz

400 300 200 100

c
0

d a
b
100 MHz

200 100 0

(Frequency shift from Me4Si in Hz) 60 MHz

δ =
(Spectrometer frequency, MHz)
100 0

For this reason, the distance between the reference signal (Me4Si) and the position of a specific peak in the
spectrum (the chemical shift) is not reported in Hz, but rather in dimensionless units of δ, which is the same on all
spectrometers. Note that in the above spectra the multiplet separations (doublet, quartet) are the same at all fields,
whereas in the spectra below the chemical shift separations are equal.

5-HMR-0.4
 c
CH3 b a
Plotted on the same ppm scale c
CH3 C CH2 CH3
OH
d Me4Si
220 MHz

1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

100 MHz

2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

60 MHz

3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

δ (ppm)
Coupling
Neighboring magnetic nuclei can also perturb the local magnetic field, so we observe J-coupling, which causes
multiplet structure for NMR signals. J coupling is mutual (JAX = JXA). Coupling constants are independent of the
magnetic field, and thus should always be reported in Hz.
Multiplet structure resulting from several couplings to a given nucleus, however, often depends strongly on the
chemical shifts between the nuclei, with larger chemical shifts usually leading to simpler spectra. Since chemical
shifts (in energy units like Hz) increase with magnetic field strength, higher field magnets typically give much simpler
and more easily interpreted NMR spectra.
Sensitivity
In sharp contrast to UV/VIS/IR spectroscopy, where essentially all molecules are in the ground state at room
temperature, in NMR spectroscopy the excited states are thermally populated, with population difference between the
spin states of only about one part in 105, so NMR signals are inherently very weak.
n+ At 500 MHz and 298 K ∆E = -0.05 cal/mol, RT = 592 cal/mol, n+/n- = 0.999916
= e-∆E/RT
n-

The energy separation between the two spin states of a spin ½ nucleus is directly proportional to the strength of
C
the magnetic field (∆E = µBo). This in turns affects the Boltzmann population differences of the α and β spin states.
Thus stronger magnetic fields result in large increases in the strength of the NMR signal.

Excess population: ∆E = 0.05 cal/mol Excess population:

Bo = 7.02 T
1/98,000 ∆E = 0.03 cal/mol 500 MHz 1/12,000
300 MHz Bo = 11.7 T
Bo = 1.41 T
m = -½ (β)
∆E = 0.006 cal/mol
E 60 MHz

0 Bo

E = ½ µBo m = +½ (α)

Relaxation
Relaxation of spin for I = 1/2 nuclei is slow (T1 = 0.1 to 100 sec). This may further weaken NMR signals when the
RF field is applied repeatedly (as it usually is), since the population of the spin states can become equalized if nuclei
cannot fully relax back to their normal populations between pulses (saturation). See Section 8-TECH-1.

5-HMR-0.5
 © Copyright Hans J. Reich 2017
All Rights Reserved
5.1 Integration of Proton NMR Spectra University of Wisconsin

NMR is unique among common spectroscopic methods in that signal intensities are directly proportional to the
number of nuclei causing the signal (provided certain conditions are met). In other words, all absorption coefficients for
a given nucleus are identical. This is why proton NMR spectra are routinely integrated, whereas IR and UV spectra
are not. A typical integrated spectrum is shown below, together with an analysis.

270 MHz 1H NMR Spectrum in CDCl3

O O
S

22.8 mm
15.2 mm
36.2 mm

9 8 7 6 5 ppm 4 3 2 1 0

The vertical displacement of the integral gives the relative number of protons It is not possible to determine the
absolute numbers without additional information (such as a molecular formula). In the example above, if we add up
all of the integrals, we get 74.3. Dividing each integral by the smallest one (15.2) gives a ratio of 2.38/1.0/1.50 for the
three signals. Multiplying by two gives 4.76/2.0/3.03, which is close to the integral numbers (5/2/3) expected for a
pure compound. However, there is nothing in the spectrum that rules out 10/4/6 or higher multiples. If we have a
molecular formula (in this case C8H10O2S), dividing by the number of hydrogens gives 7.4 mm per H. We can then
determine the number of protons corresponding to each multiplet by rounding to the nearest integer. It is generally
possible to reliably distinguish signals with intensities of 1 to 10 or so, but it becomes progressively harder to make a
correct assignment as the number of protons in a multiplet increases beyond 10, because of the inherent inaccuracies
in the method.
The two parts of aromatic proton integral at δ 7.6 and 7.9 can be separately measured as a 2:3 ratio of ortho to
meta+para protons.

If given the molecular formula (C8H10O2S), we know there are 10H in molecule
Total area: 36.2 + 15.2 + 22.8 = 74.2 mm
Thus 7.4 mm per H
36.2 / 7.4 = 4.89 i.e. 5H
15.2 / 7.4 = 2.05 i.e. 2H
22.8 / 7.4 = 3.08 i.e. 3H

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-1.1 Integration

Accuracy of Proton NMR Integrations
The integration of NMR spectra can be carried out with high accuracy, but this is only possible if a number of
sources of error are properly handled. On a modern spectrometer accuracy of ±5% can be achieved easily if
relaxation issues are handled properly. To get errors of <1% a number of factors have to be considered and
optimized.

1. Signal to Noise. The spectrum must have adequate signal to noise to support the level of accuracy required
for the experiment.

2. Saturation Effects. NMR spectroscopy has a feature unique among spectroscopic methods, that relaxation
processes are relatively slow (on the order of seconds or tenths of seconds), compared to milli, micro, and pico
seconds for IR and UV. In other words, once the spectrometer has perturbed the equilibrium population of nuclei by
scanning over the resonance frequency or pulsing the nuclei, it takes from 0.1 to 100s of seconds (typically several
seconds) for them to return to their original populations (T1 the spin-lattice relaxation time). If power settings are too
high (for CW spectra) or pulse angle and repetition rates too high (for FT spectra) then spectra can become
saturated, and integrations less accurate, because the relaxation rates of various protons in the sample are
different. Saturation effects are particularly severe for small molecules in mobile solvents, because these typically
have the longest T1 relaxation times.
To get reliable integrations the NMR spectrum must be acquired in a way that saturation is avoided. It is not
possible to tell whether a spectrum was run appropriately simply by inspection, it is up to the operator to take
suitable precautions (such as putting in a 5-10 second pulse delay between scans) if optimal integrations are
needed. Fortunately, even a proton spectrum taken without pulse delays will usually give reasonably good
integrations (say within 10%). It is important to recognize that integration errors caused by saturation effects will
depend on the relative relaxation rates of various protons in a molecule. Errors will be larger when different kinds of
protons are being compared (such as aromatic CH to a methyl group), than when the protons are similar or identical
in type (e.g. two methyl groups).
3. Line Shape Considerations. NMR signals in an ideally tuned instrument are Lorenzian in shape, so the
intensity extends for some distance on both sides of the center of the peak. Integrations must be carried out over a
sufficiently wide frequency range to capture enough of the peak for the desired level of accuracy. Thus, if the peak
width at half height is 1 Hz, then an integration of ±2.3 Hz from the center of the peak is required to capture 90% of
the area, ±5.5 Hz for 95%, ±11 Hz for 98% and ±18Hz for >99% of the area. This means that peaks that are closely
spaced cannot be accurately integrated by the usual method, but may require line-shape simulations with a program
like NUTS or WINDNMR to accurately measure relative peak areas.

4. Digital Resolution. A peak must be defined by an adequate number of points if an accurate integration is to
be obtained. The errors introduced are surprisingly small, and reach 1% if a line with a width at half height of 1 Hz is
sampled every 0.5 Hz.
5. Isotopic Satellites. All C-H signals have 13C satellites located ±JC-H/2 from the center of the peak (JC-H is
typically 115-135 Hz, although numbers over 250 Hz are known) Together these satellites make up 1.1% of the area
of the central peak (0.55% each). They must be accounted for if integration at the >99% level of accuracy is
desired. Larger errors are introduced if the satellites from a nearby very intense peak fall under the signal being
integrated. The simplest method to correct this problem is by 13C decoupling, which compresses the satellites into
the central peak. A number of other elements have significant fractions of spin ½ nuclei at natural abundance, and
these will also create satellites large enough to interfere with integrations. Most notable are 117/119Sn, 29Si, 77Se,
125
Te, 199Hg. For more on satellites, see Section 7, Multinuclear NMR.
There is a bright side to 13C satellites: they can be used as internal standards for the quantitation of very small
amounts of isomers or contaminants, since their size relative to the central peak is accurately known.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-1.2 Integration

 6. Spinning Sidebands. These can appear at ± the spinning speed in Hz in spectra run on poorly tuned
spectrometers and/or with samples in low-quality tubes. They draw intensity from the central peak. SSBs are rarely
significant on modern spectrometers.
7. Baseline Slant and Curvature. Under some conditions spectra can show significant distortions of the
baseline, which can interfere with obtaining high-quality integrations. Standard NMR work-up programs have
routines for baseline adjustment.
8. Decoupling. When decoupling is being used, as is routinely done for 13C NMR spectra and occasionally for 1H
NMR spectra, peak intensities are distorted by Nuclear Overhauser Effects (NOE, see Sect. 8). Integrations of such
spectra will not give accurate ratios of peak areas.
Peak Intensities. Under certain conditions, peak heights can also be a quite accurate method of quantitation.
For example, if several singlets are being compared, and they all have identical line widths, and the spectra were
measured such that there are sufficient data points to define the lineshape of each singlet, then peak heights may be
useful, and under ideal conditions more accurate than integrations.

Determining Absolute Amounts by NMR Integration. Although NMR spectra in principle follow Beer's law, it is
difficult (although not impossible) to make effective use of the absolute intensities of NMR spectra for quantitation
(as is routinely done for UV, and sometimes IR). NMR integrations are always relative. Thus an internal standard
must be used to determine reaction yields by NMR integration. A commonly used internal standard for proton NMR
spectra is pentachloroethane -- it is a liquid, not too volatile, and appears in a region of the NMR spectrum (δ 6.11)
where there are few signals. It is strongly recommended to avoid using volatile materials like CH2Cl2, CHCl3, C6H6
and others, since it is very difficult to avoid some evaporation losses during the transfer process of the standard,
leading to incorrect (high) concentrations of the substrate.
1/39

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-1.3 Integration

 © Copyright Hans J. Reich 2017
All Rights Reserved
5.2 Chemical Shift University of Wisconsin

Fortunately for the chemist, all proton resonances do not occur at the same position. The Larmor precession
frequency (νo) varies because the actual magnetic field B at the nucleus is always less than the external field Bo.
The origin of this effect is the "superconducting" circulation of electrons in the molecule, which occurs in such a
way that a local magnetic field Be is created, which opposes Bo (Be is proportional to Bo). Thus B = Bo - Be. We
therefore say that the nucleus is shielded from the external magnetic field. The extent of shielding is influenced by
many structural features within the molecule, hence the name chemical shift. Since the extent of shielding is
proportional to the external magnetic field Bo, we use field independent units for chemical shifts: δ values, whose
units are ppm. Spin-spin splitting is not dependent on the external field, so we use energy units for coupling
constants: Hz, or cycles per second (in mathematical formulas radians per second are the natural frequency units
for both chemical shifts and couplings).

B = Bo - Be (magnetic field at nucleus)

Bo •H e-
A νo = γB/2π (Larmor precession frequency of
Be HA - varies as B changes)

The Proton Chemical Shift Scale

Experimentally measured proton chemical shifts are referenced to the 1H signal of tetramethylsilane (Me4Si).
For NMR studies in aqueous solution, where Me4Si is not sufficiently soluble, the reference signal usually used is
DSS (Me3Si-CH2CH2-SO3-Na+, Tiers, J. Org. Chem. 1961, 26, 2097). For aqueous solution of cationic substrates
(e.g., amino acids) where there may be interactions between the anionic reference compound and the substrates,
an alternatice reference standard, DSA (Me3Si-CH2CH2-NH3+ CF3CO2-, Nowick Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 3511) has been
suggested.
Proton chemical shifts cover a range of over 30 ppm, but the vast majority appear in the region δ 0-10 ppm,
where the origin is the chemical shift of tetramethylsilane.
O-

H+ (naked proton - calculated) H + N+ Me4Si (TMS) H-Rh(CN)5-3

O Me

40 30 20 10 0 -10
δ ppm
most protons fall in this region
Downfield Upfield
Bo decreases "Field sweep" Bo increases
Deshielded Shielded
νo increases "Frequency sweep" νo decreases
High frequency Low frequency
In the original continuous wave (CW) method of measuring NMR spectra, the magnetic field was scanned from
left to right, from low to high values. We thus refer to signals on the right as upfield or shielded and signals to the
left as downfield or deshielded. Later spectrometers gained the capability of scanning frequency, which then had
to decrease from left to right during the scan, hence the "backwards" nature of NMR scales. δ units are defined
as follows:
[νo(H) - νo(TMS)]
δ =
[Spectrometer Frequency in MHz]

Chemical shifts of all nuclei should be reported using δ values, with frequency and δ increasing from right to
left. Many early papers on proton and multinuclear NMR used the opposite convention (not to mention other
references) - in particular the τ scale was used in the early days: δ = 10 - τ. Coupling constants are field
independent, and should always be specified in Hz.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.1 Delta

 The chemical shifts of protons on carbon in organic molecules fall in several distinct regions, depending on the
nature of adjacent carbon atoms, and the substituents on those carbons. The scale below should be used only as a
rough guideline, since there are many examples that fall outside of the indicated ranges. To a first approximation,
protons attached to sp3 and sp carbons appear at 0-5 ppm, whereas those on sp2 carbons appear at 5-10 ppm.

H
X=O,Cl,Br X=N,S
H X H X=O,N,C
H X H X Alkanes
O
H
H R
H

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
δ ppm

Within these ranges, for a given type of C-H bond (sp3, sp2 or sp) the chemical shift is strongly affected by the
presence of electronegative substituents as can be seen in the methyl shifts summarized below, which range from δ
-2 for MeLi to δ 4 for MeF.

1
H Shifts of MenX Compounds Hg Cd Zn Be Mg Li

Tl+ B Tl H Ga Al

Sn
C Pb Ge Si

N Sb Bi As P

O S Se Te

F Cl Br I

4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 -1.0 -2.0

δ ppm
The 1H chemical shifts of protons attached to heteroatoms (H-X) show a very wide chemical shift range, with no
obvious correlation to the electronegativity of X or the acidity of HX.

Gas Phase 1H Shifts of H-X Compounds

H-CH3
H-SiH3 H-CN

H-OH
H-NH2 H-SH
benzene

ethylene
H-Hg-R

H-PH2

H-Br
H-Cl
H-F

H-I
H2

20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 -5.0 -10.0 -10.5

ppm

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.2 Delta

Calculation of Proton Chemical Shifts

Parameters for the calculation of proton chemical shifts for many kinds of molecules have been tabulated (see
Section 9, Proton NMR Data). All of these work in the same way. We establish the base chemical shift for a
reference substance (e.g., ethylene for olefins, benzene for substituted aromatic compounds, methane for alkanes)
and tabulate Substituent Chemical Shift values (∆δ) for the introduction of substituents into the reference
molecules. Thus for a vinyl proton (C=C-H) there will be parameters for the introduction of substituents cis, trans, or
gem to the hydrogen we are calculating, and this leads to reasonable estimations for most molecules, as in the
example below (parameters from Section 9-HDATA-6.1). Here ∆δ 0.15 is the difference between calculated and
observed chemical shifts. However, when there are strong resonance or other electronic interactions between
substituents (as in the β-aminoenone below, with ∆δ 1.70), or strong conformational effects then the predictions
made by these calculations will be less accurate. NOTE: the chemical shift increments were determined in weakly
interacting solvents like CCl4 and CDCl3. They will work poorly for spectra taken in aromatic solvents like benzene or
pyridine (see later section on aromatic solvent shifts).
Calculate δ Calculate δ
H
CH3 H 5.25 (Base shift: CH2=CH2) 5.25 (Base shift: CH2=CH2)
0.45 (Zgem Me) Me2N
0.78 (Zgem COMe)
Ph Br 0.45 (Zcis Br) -1.26 (Zcis NMe2)
H O
-0.07 (Ztrans Ph)
Obs: 5.47, Calc: 7.17 4.77 (δ calculated)
6.08 (δ Calculated) ∆δ 1.70 5.05 (δ observed)
6.23 (δ Observed) ∆δ 0.28
∆δ 0.15

For aliphatic (sp3) C-H proton chemical shifts we can use the Curphy-Morrison table (Section 9-HDATA-5.1). In
this system there are base shifts for CH3 (0.9), CH2 (1.2) and C-H (1.55) protons, and then corrections are applied
for all α and β substituents. The corrections for CH3, CH3 and CH protons are slightly different, and no corrections
are applied for alkyl groups.

Calculate δ Calculate δ Calculate δ

Br
H 1.55 (Base shift: tertiary CH) 7.36 (Base shift:PhH) 7.36 (Base shift:PhH)
Ph NO2 0.87 (o-NO2)
0.95 (α-Ph for CH) 0.20 (m-NO2)
2.20 (α-Br for CH) -0.71 (o-NH2) H -0.22 (m-NH2)
Me Br
0.25 (β-Br for CH)
6.82 (δ Calculated) 8.01 (δ Calculated)
4.95 (δ Calculated) H 7.93 (δ Observed)
6.62 (δ Observed)
5.00 (δ Observed) NH2
∆δ 0.20 ∆δ 0.08
∆δ 0.05

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.3 Delta

Accuracy of Chemical Shift Calculations
Calculations using simple parameter lists such as in Section 9-HDATA-5.1 and Section 9-HDATA-6.1 will typically
give results accurate to within 0.5 ppm, but there are exceptions:

Multiple Substituents: The more parameters you are adding together, and the larger they are, the less accurate
the calculation is likely to be. This is especially true for electronegative substituents like O, N and Cl if they are
applied several times to the same proton as the examples below. This is perfectly reasonable, since electron
withdrawal from the C-H group becomes progressively more difficult as the C-H group becomes more electron
deficient.

Calculate δ
Cl H H Me2N
H 1.55 (Base shift: tertiary CH)
O2N C H
2.55 (α-Cl for CH) Cl OMe Me2N
Cl MeO
3.05 (α-NO2 for CH) Cl OMe Me2N
Me
Obs: δ 7.26, Calc: 9.2 Obs: δ 4.97, Calc: 8.9 Obs: δ 3.02, Calc: δ 5.60
7.15 (δ Calculated)
5.80 (δ Observed) ∆δ 1.94 ∆δ 3.93 ∆δ 2.58

∆δ 1.35

Cyclic Systems: Calculations are usually poor for cyclic systems, or otherwise conformationally constrained
compounds. The base shift for a CH2 group in an alkane is 1.2 ppm, and this would be the calculated value of any
methylene group in a cycloalkane. The actual shift for methylenes in cycloalkanes varies by 1.7 ppm, from δ 0.2 for
cyclopropane to δ 1.9 for cyclobutane, although if you ignore cyclopropane and cyclobutane, the range is only 0.5
ppm. One of the reasons is that in cyclic compounds conformational mobility is greatly restricted, so that less
rotational averaging of various chemical shift anisotropic effects occurs. At low temperatures the axial and C
equatorial hydrogens of cyclohexane differ by 0.5 ppm, the average shift at room temperature is 1.44, close to the
standard value of 1.2. Note especially that the protons on 3-membered rings of all kinds are strongly shifted to
lower frequency from the acyclic value.

Standard CH2
H 1.62
CH2
-103 °C
δ 1.20 0.22 1.94 1.51 1.44 H 1.14

Even more dramatic chemical shift effects are seen in polycyclic compounds. The Curphy-Morrison calculated C
values for all of the compounds below would be δ 1.55 (the base value for a methyne group), yet the actual values
vary by several ppm. Not sur[risingly, cubane and dodecahedrane are especially far from the typical values.

Standard CH H
H δ 1.74 H δ 3.38
C δ 4.0
CH3 H H
H CH3 H 1.13 2.50
CH3
δ 1.55 2.19

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.4 Delta

Reproducibility of Proton Chemical Shifts
It is important to understand that the chemical shift of a given proton is not an invariant property of a molecule
(like a melting point or boiling point), but will change depending on the molecular environment. The variability is
especially large for NH and OH protons (several ppm), but even for CH protons reported shifts vary by a few tenths
of a ppm. This is in part due to changes in measurement conditions, but additional variability in chemical shift is
present in old NMR data (CW spectra) since spectrometer calibrations and spectrum referencing were not nearly as
accurate as they are today. Nevertheless, if conditions are rigorously controlled, very high reproducibility of chemical
shifts can be achieved. Databases of precise chemical shifts for many biomolecules have been created which
facilitate simultaneous detection by NMR in aqueous solution.
Solvent effects. The aromatic solvents benzene and pyridine cause changes in chemical shifts as large as 0.5
to 0.8 ppm compared to less magnetically active solvents like chloroform or acetone. Since the standard solvent for Cr
chemical shift parameters like the Curphy-Morrison ones is CCl4 or CDCl3, expect less accurate calculations for
spectra taken in aromatic solvents.
Concentration dependence. Chemical shifts of C-H protons can vary with concentration, especially if
intermolecular hydrogen bonding can occur, as for many amines, alcohols and carboxylic acids. The chemical shifts
of protons on oxygen (OH) and nitrogen (NH), which are often directly involved in hydrogen bonding are especially C
strongly dependent (several ppm) on concentration, solvent and temperature. Aromatic molecules can also show
significant concentration dependence because of the aromatic solvent effect mentioned above.
Temperature dependence. For molecules that are conformationally flexible, the populations of conformations
change with temperature. Since the chemical shifts of various conformations are different, the chemical shifts will
vary with temperature (the observed chemical shift is the weighted average of the shifts of the individual
conformations). Temperature will also affect the degree of intermolecular hydrogen bonding or other types of
aggregation, and this provides an additional source of shift changes.
Paramagnetic impurities (unpaired electrons, transition metals with unpaired spins) can cause very large
shifts (tens and hundreds of ppm) as well as large amounts of line broadening. Must avoid these alltogether if you
want to get high quality NMR spectra.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.5 Delta

Proton Chemical Shift Effects
Cr
1. Electronegativity. Proton shifts move downfield when electronegative substituents are attached to the same
or an adjacent carbon (see Curphy-Morrison chemical shift table). Alkyl groups behave as if they were weakly
electron withdrawing, although this is probably an anisotropy effect.

CH3F CH3Cl CH3Br CH3I CH3CH3 CH4 CH3SiMe3 CH3Li

4.26 3.05 2.69 2.19 0.96 0.2 0.0 -2.1

The chemical shifts of protons attached to sp2 hybridized carbons also reflect charges within the π system
(approximately 10 ppm/unit negative or positive charge).
+
CMe2 CH2Li
H 9.64 H 6.28
CH3
+ H H H H 8.80 6.09
H 13.50
8.97 + 2.46
CH3 7.97 6.30
H H H H
5.06
8.45 5.50
H 10.3 H 5.37 H 7.27 H 9.17

+ - +
Pr Pr
Even without formal charges, resonance interactions can lead to substantial chemical shift changes due to π
polarization.
H H 5.25 EtO H 4.03 CH2 2.77 O2N H 6.55

N N
H H 6.32 H H 3.86 7.12 H H 5.87

This is especially useful in the interpretation of the NMR chemical shift of protons in aromatic systems. The
protons ortho and para to electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents show distinct upfield and
downfield shifts.

m o
NH2
p 3.13
2.00

OMe m o
p 3.00
2.00

CH3 5.00

NO2 o m
p 3.12
2.00

8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5

ppm Click for Spectra

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.6 Delta

 2. Lone Pair Interactions. When lone pairs on nitrogen or oxygen are anti to a C-H bond, the proton is shifted
upfield (n --> σ* interactions). There is thus a strong conformational dependence of chemical shifts of protons α to
heteroatoms. This interaction is one of the reasons that Curphy-Morrison chemical shift calculations work poorly
when multiple O or N substituents are attached to one carbon. This effect is also present in 13C chemical shifts. C-H
bonds anti to lone pairs also show Bohlmann bands in the IR spectra, as a result of weakening of the C-H bond by
hyperconjugation. For example, the Θ = 180 ° compound shows IR absorption at 2450 cm-1, as well as at 2690-2800
cm-1.

:
:
EtO
Electron donation N
to C-H bond gives N H C H
EtO
a -δ (upfield) shift
H EtO
effect
Little C-M calculation: δ 7.85
interaction Observed: δ 4.96
Curphy-Morrison calculation would give δ 5.60 for all of these:
H δ 3.67
H δ 5.03 H δ 2.25
δ 3.02

:
Me2N H
Θ H N N
:

C H N N N N
:

H Me2N N
N N H N
Me2N

:
Θ = 0° Θ = 60 ° Θ = 180 °
Weisman TL 1980, 3635 Stetter Ber 1973, 2523 Weisman TL 1980, 3635

3. Steric Compression. When molecular features cause a proton to be forced close to other protons, or to
various functional groups, the proton will in general be deshielded (dispersion interactions). Shifts of this type are
hard to distinguish from magnetic anisotropy interactions.
CH3 C(CH3)3
δ 3.45 δ 3.65 δ 7.10 δ 7.27
H H CH3 H H H
CH3 OH CH3 OH

δ 2.91 7.73 8.53

H 1.32 2.68 0.92
H (CH3)3C H 1.03
H
H H
H O Ph
N N
δ 5.44 H
N N
Ph
The N-H distance is 2.25 A JACS 1968, 3724 JOC 1967, 1304

These shifts are especially large in highly compressed compounds like the "birdcage" molecules. The inside
proton in the "out" alcohol A at δ 4.48 is downfield by 0.96 ppm from the model B. Even more striking are the shifts
in the "in" alcohol C, where the proton jammed into the OH group at δ 3.55 is downfield by 2.3 ppm from the model
D, and the gem partner at δ 0.88 is actually upfield by 0.5 ppm from its position in D, suggesting a migration of
electron density from the sterically compressed inside H to the outside H.

<2.4 4.48 3.52 3.55 H 3.92 1.4 1.2

H HH OH H OH 0.88 H HO H H H

A B C D
JACS 1965, 5247 JACS 1965, 5247

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.7 Delta

 4. Magnetic Anisotropy. Whereas the local circulation of electrons around HA is a shielding effect (i.e., to the
right in the NMR spectrum, -δ), there can be both shielding and deshielding effects on HA from electron motion in
other parts of the molecule. We refer to such interactions as magnetic anisotropy effects, since they are caused
by anisotropic electron circulation (i.e., the electron circulation is stronger in some orientations of the molecule in the
magnetic field than in others).

The most dramatic examples of anisotropy effects are seen with benzene and other aromatic rings, which cause
very large shielding (-δ) effects for protons placed above the ring, and smaller deshielding (+δ) effects for protons to
the side of it. These chemical shift effects occur because electron circulation is stronger when the plane of the
benzene ring is perpendicular to the magnetic field than when it is parallel to it
The local magnetic field is higher here, so a higher
frequency or lower external magnetic field is needed to
achieve resonance. Signal is deshielded.

H When the benzene ring is oriented with the ring

parallel to the magnetic field, the electron
Ho H circulation is much weaker. The shielding effects
H in these orientations do not cancel the
deshielding effects in the other orientation.
H

The local magnetic field is lower here, so a lower frequency

or a higher external field magnetic field is needed to achieve
resonance. Signal is shielded.

The consequence of magnetic anisotropy effects is to provide a stereochemical component to the chemical shift
of a nucleus: the chemical shift changes depending on the spacial relationship between a proton and nearby
functional groups. Such effects can be valuable for making stereochemical assignments. Some proposed
magnetic anisotropy shielding/deshielding cones are shown below:

-δ -δ -δ
-δ +δ
+δ +δ O
+δ O +δ +δ N
+δ S O +δ O +δ
-δ C C -δ
-δ -δ -δ
-δ

Alkene Carbonyl Sulfoxide3 Alkyne Nitro4

-δ -δ -δ
+δ H +δ
H
+δ H
+δ H +δ +δ
+δ -δ O +δ
-δ H H
-δ -δ +δ
H
H
C-C Single Bond Cyclohexane Ax-Eq Cyclopropane2 Epoxide1

1. H. C. Brown, A. Suzuki J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1967, 89, 1933. L. A. Paquette, G. Kretschmer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1979, 101, 4655.
2. C. D. Poulter et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 2291.
3. The Thiosulfinyl Group Serves as a Stereogenic Center and Shows Diamagnetic Anisotropy Similar to That of the Sulfinyl Group: Tanaka, S.; Sugihara,
Y.; Sakamoto, A.; Ishii, A.; Nakayama, J.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 9024.
4. Magnetic Anisotropy of the Nitro Group by NMR I. Yamaguchi, Mol. Phys. 1963 , 6, 103

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.8 Delta

 Aromatic Chemical Shifts. The ring current in Huckel aromatic systems, i.e., those with 4n + 2 π electrons (2, n
6, 10, 14, 18 ...) causes downfield shifts in the plane of aromatic ring.
5.76 5.77 7.75
H 1.64 2.36 H H
5.87 7.27 1.66 7.38
5.72
H H H CH3 CH3 H H

8.59
N N H
∆δ = 1.40 ppm ∆δ = 0.72 ppm ∆δ = 1.66 ppm
H
When protons are above or below the plane (or in the middle) of the aromatic ring then upfield shift effects are
observed.
9.32 9.82
-5.49 (d, J=13) H H (t, J=13)
H t
Bu But
H 8.58 (s)
14π e- H
H δ -4.03 18π e-
-3.64
H (t, J=13)

Pascall JACS 1987, 6878

H 8.50 (d, J = 7.5 Hz) t
Bu But
Boekelheide JACS 1970, 3511 Nakagawa TL 1973, 4743

H H -0.5 H -0.25 -1.74 10.31 14.19

H 2.55
H H H H

H 6.95 H 8.47 + 3.92

8.9 1.21
H 7.27 H 5.5 8.73 3.16
9.41 8.96 2.31 2.99
J = 9.5 Hz J = 1.3 Hz
10π e- Aromatic Nonaromatic
10π e- (aromatic) 12π e- (antiaromatic)
Vogel AC 1964, 145, 784 Vogel TL 1966, 655
Staley JACS 1973, 3384
When a cyclic conjugated system is planar and antiaromatic, i.e., 4n π electrons (4, 8, 12, 16 ... ) then chemical
shift effects are in the opposite direction: downfield over the ring, and upfield in the ring plane. This is seen in the
Staley 10 and 12-electron methano annulene cation and anion above, as well as in the 14-electron dihydropyrene
below. The normal chemical shift effects are seen in the 10 and 14π-electron systems. In the 12 and 16 π-electron
anions the methylene bridge and propyl groups over the ring show very large downfield shifts as a result of the
antiaromatic ring current. The paramagnetic ring currents are a consequence of the small HOMO-LUMO separation
that is characteristic of 4n π (antiaromatic) systems.

H 5.40 H 8.83
0.65 5.51 H 7.45
H
-3.95 1.87 21.24 12.59
H H
7.95 -2.56 to
-3.14 H H
10.43 -8.17

H H
-
14π e (aromatic) 16π e- (antiaromatic) 16π e- (antiaromatic) 18π e- (aromatic)
Boekelheide JACS 1969, 4931 Oth TL 1968, 6265

In the [16]-annulene the neutral compound has antiaromatic character. The shifts were measured at low
temperature, where conformational averaging has stopped. In the 18π-electron dianion, large aromatic shifts are
reported.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.9 Delta

 Chemical Shift Effects of Phenyl Groups. The effects of a phenyl substituent are highly dependent on
conformation. For example, for styrenes the chemical shift effect of the phenyl is downfield when the phenyl is
in the plane of the double bond, but upfield when the rotamer with the phenyl group perpendicular is the more
stable one:

H H
H H
If ring is flat, get If ring is perpendicular,
downfield shifts (+δ) get upfield shifts (-δ)

CH3 CN CH3 CN
CN
CN
H H
δ 5.46 δ 5.22 CH3 H
CH3 H
δ 5.48
δ 5.31
H cis to Ph is downfield H cis to Ph is upfield - the ortho-methyl substituent
presumably rotates the Ph group out of the C=C plane.
TET 1970, 4783

The large differences in chemical shifts of the butadienes below can also be used to assign stereochemistry,
based on the effect of the "rotated" benzene ring when it is cis to the other vinyl group.

7.30 7.32
6.63
Cl H
Br H H
Br
Br
Br
H
H Br H
6.64

Reich J. Org. Chem. 1975, 40, 2248

If steric effects force a phenyl to adopt a face-on conformation (as in the lactone example below) then a cis
CH3 group will be shifted upfield compared to a trans group.
δ 1.1
δ 0.7
CH3 H
HO CH3 H

I JOC 1982, 3943

O O I
H H
O HO
O

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.10 Delta

 Determination of Enantiomer Ratios and Absolute Configuration with Mosher Esters. Esters of
2-phenyl-2-methoxy-3,3,3-trifluoropropionic acid (Mosher esters, or MTPA esters) with secondary alcohol show
characteristic chemical shift effects in the alcohol portion which can be used to measure enantiomeric purity and
assign the absolute configuration of the alcohol. It is necessary to assign key protons, and to make both the R- and
S-Mosher ester to arrive at an unambiguous determination (Dale, J. S.; Mosher, H. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1973,
95, 512; Ohtani, I.; Kusumi, T.; Kashman, Y.; Kakisawa, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1991, 113, 4092).
This method works because the principal conformation of MTPA esters is the extended one shown. The
anisotropy of the phenyl group then causes upfield shifts of the protons behind the plane of the paper, downfield
shifts for those in front. A typical procedure is to do a complete analysis of all assignable protons of the R and S
esters, and calculate the difference between the chemical shifts of the two diastereomers. Note that the t-Bu group
is upfield in the R,S ddistaereomer, whereas the Me group is upfield in the R, R isomer.

MTPA R,R
upfield R,S 0
MeO Ph H +15
-δ CH MeO O H
Me H
3
+65
O Ph C C O C CMe3 H
+δ (CH3)3C R CF3 -15
R CF3 CH3 H H +30
H O -15 H OR
R,R -50 H
downfield +20
R,S H H H +10
-10
-60 -155

MeO Ph δS - δR (Hz at 500 MHz)

-δ (CH3)3C
O
+δ CH3 R CF3
S
H O

1.5 1.0 0.5

ppm

For a related method using 1-phenyltrifluoroethanol, see Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 1745.

-δ Pr Even the remote

+δ Me H Ph
O n-propyl CH3 group
CF3 splits nicely:
H Si O (R)

+δ Pr
-δ Me H CF3
O Note 8% of other enantiomer
Ph
H Si O (S)

1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7

ppm
"Chiral Reagents for the Determination of Enantiomeric Excess and Absolute Configuration Using NMR
Spectroscopy." Wenzel, T. J.; Wilcox, J. D. Chirality 2003, 15, 256-70. " The Assignment of Absolute
Configuration by NMR," Seco, J. M.; Quinoa, R.; Ricardo, R. Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 17. Parker, D. "NMR
Determination of Enatiomeric Purity" Chem. Rev. 1991, 91, 1441

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.11 Delta

 Aromatic Solvent Induced Shifts (ASIS). Polar molecules have substantially different chemical shifts in aromatic
solvents (benzene, pyridine, C6F6) than in less magnetically interactive solvents like CCl4, CDCl3, CCl2D2, acetone-d6 N
and CD3CN. A typical result of going from CDCl3 to benzene is shown in the spectra of butyrophenone below. The
shifts are large enough that chemical shift calculations can be seriously in error when applied to molecules whose
spectra were taken in benzene (P. Laszlo Progr. NMR Spectrosc. 1967, 3, 231).

Click for full Spectra

O
Calculated
Curphy-Morrison

300 MHz
∆δbenzene
Source: Amanda Jones (HJR) 02-09
-0.47 ppm

C6D6

CDCl3

3.2 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6
ppm
The origin of these chemical shift effects is believed to be a partial orientation of the solvent by the dipole moment
of the solute. For benzene, the shifts can be rationalized on the basis of a weak and transient complexation of the
electron-rich π-cloud of the aromatic ring with the positive end of the molecular dipole, such that the protons spend
additional time in the shielding (-δ) region above and below the benzene ring. There is a strong correlation between
the dipole moment and the size of the solvent shift. With occasional exceptions, the benzene shifts are upfield
(-δ).
∆δ (CCl4 vs. C6D6):
δ 0.82 δ 4.91
Effect of dipole moment on ASIS: +0.03 C6F6 -0.00 C6F6
∆δ µ -0.20 C6D6 -0.18 C6D6
MeSnCl3 -1.43 3.6 -0.12 Py +0.06 Py
H
MeSnI3 -1.02 2.6 H
MeCCl3 -0.59 1.5 δ 1.37 δ 5.86
Me4Sn -0.09 0 +0.12 C6F6 -0.20 C6F6
-0.31 C6D6 +0.24 C6D6
-0.29 -0.52 O +0.22 Py
O -0.16 Py H
CH3C≡N -0.45 H δ 1.30
N 0.00 C6F6
-0.95 H -0.03
N -0.28 C6D6
-0.77
-0.14 Py
O O O K. Tori Tetrahedron Lett. 1975, 2199.
+0.02 O
-0.65
N -0.62 O

-1.05
S+ S+
-0.36
-0.35 O
O δMe (CDCl3) 1.40 1.23
O O CH2
δMe (C6D6) 1.18 0.74
S S
-0.21 -0.64 -0.35 -0.05 ∆ δ -0.22 -0.49
-0.45 -1.00 -0.62 -0.17 JOC 1970, 3655
JOC 1968, 2555 JOC 1968, 2555 JOC 1968, 2555 JOC 1968, 2555

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.12 Delta

 When 1H NMR spectra are complicated by accidental superposition of coupled protons, as in the spectrum of
eugenol in CDCl3 below, then switching to benzene as solvent (or even just adding a few drops of C6D6 to the
sample) will often move signals enough that more interpretable (first order) spectra result. In the CDCl3 spectrum of
eugenol H2 and H6 are nearly superimposed, leading to a complex ABX pattern of the Solution 2 type. The spectrum
in C6D6 is essentially first order.

Eugenol C9H12O2
200 MHz 1H NMR spectra H6
Source: I. Reich H5

H5 HO H2
OMe H2

H2
H6
H6
H5
C6D6

CDCl3

7.0 6.9 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.4

ppm

Effect of benzene to simplify a strongly coupled NMR spectrum.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.13 Delta

 Anisotropy of Double Bonds. The magnetic anisotropy of C-C double bonds has generally been assumed to be
similar to that of aromatic rings, with a deshielding region in the plane of double bond. This explains both the
downfield shifts of vinyl protons, and the larger downfield shifts of the internal (which are affected by the anisotropy
of both π systems) versus the terminal protons in conjugated dienes. It also explains the downfield shifts of allylic
protons.

-δ 6.26 δ
δ 5.25 0.92 δ 1.60 δ H H
H H Me Me
+δ +δ 5.05 δ H
H
-δ H H 5.16 δ H H
The shielding region above and below the plane of the double bond is more controversial. A number of
examples show the expected upfield shifts of protons above double bonds.

-0.17 δ 3.53 δ 3.75 δ 1.17, 1.01 1.27 δ 0.85 δ

0.83 δ
H OH HO H Me Me Me Me
H H
Me Me

0.70 δ 0.79 δ 1.23 δ 0.72 δ

H 1.44 δ
0.22 δ CH3 H H CH3 Me Me
H H H
2.88 δ CH2
at -150 °C

There is, however, one major exception. In norbornene itself, the proton shifts are in the opposite direction than
seen in the 7-substituted norbornenes above (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1968, 90, 3721). Both the proton assignment and
the absence of a -δ region above the double bond are supported by high level ab initio MO chemical shift
calculations (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 11510). Thus the deshielding region above double bonds shown in the
figure must be viewed with some skepticism.
δ 1.32 H H δ 1.06

For this reason, assignment of stereochemistry in cyclopentanes based on an assumed anisotropy of double
bonds, as in the examples below, should be used with caution. Possibly the shifts are the result of C-C single bond
anisotropy of the C-vinyl bond.
0.99 δ 4.06 δ 4.01 δ
O 0.82 δ O CO2CH2CH3
H
H 0.95 δ CO2CH2CH3 1.18 δ

H H H H
J. Org. Chem. 1970, 35, 2688 Chem. Commun. 1988, 760

O 0.87 δ O CO2H
When the methyl and vinyl groups
1.17 δ are cis, the methyl group is shifted
CO2H
upfield.
H H
Vollhardt J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1980, 108, 5253.

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.14 Delta

 Anisotropy of Carbonyl Groups. The magnetic anisotropy of C=O has a strongly deshielding (+δ) region in the
plane of carbonyl group. This accounts for numerous chemical shift effects in aryl ketones, α,β-unsaturated
carbonyl compounds, and conformationally rigid ketones, and is reliable enough to be used for structure
assignments.
The effect is seen both when the proton is β to the carbonyl group, as in the enones and acetophenones below,
or when there is a γ-relationship.

O
H δ 5.13 H δ 4.64
-δ
H ∆δ 0.62
+δ H δ 5.83 H δ 4.92
O +δ
O H ∆δ 0.14
-δ
J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57,1970 H ∆δ 0.21

The tetralone below shows a strongly downfield shifted ortho-proton, to δ 8.0. The ortho-methyl acetophenone,
on the other hand shows as smaller downfiled shift (δ 7.7), probably due to some rotation of the carbonyl group out
of the plane, as well a preference for the conformation shown, with the smaller C=O group cis to the ortho-CH3
group. Acetophenone ortho proton appears at δ 7.9.
Ho O
Hm 300 MHz 1H NMR spectra
Source: Aldrich Spectra Viewer

Hp
Hm'

Ho Hp Hm Hm'
Ho
Hm ∆δ = 0.35 ∆δ = 0.09
O

Hp
Hm'
8.1 8.0 7.9 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.1

In the compounds below, the proton is γ to the carbonyl and close to same plane, leading to quite large downfield
shifts:

δ 7.94 δ 9.41
O δ 8.24 HO
H H H H
δ 7.46 δ 7.62 δ 7.53
H H H O
H H O
δ ≈1.1 δ 3.68
Magn. Res. Chem. 1989, 27, 796

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.15 Delta

 In the stereoisomer A below, one of the aromatic protons is close to the carbonyl, and is shifted downfield by 1.3
ppm, whereas in isomer B the carbonyl is remote, and the chemical shift is normal.

H
7.7 O 6.25 O O
H N H N

O O O
H H
N H N H
O O
A B
6.4 H O O 6.3 H O
O
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1967, 89, 3600

These α,β-unsaturated esters show a shift range of 1.7 ppm resulting from the various β- and γ-carbonyl
interactions. In the most upfield shift (δ 6.50 for the E,Z-isomer) there are no close interactions, whereas the most
downfield proton (δ 8.20 for the same isomer) has a β-interaction with one carboxylate function, and a γ-interaction
with the other:

δ 5.88 δ 7.87 δ 5.80 δ 6.50 O δ 7.34

H H O H H δ 5.90 EtO H δ 6.21
OEt H H
EtO EtO H
δ 6.21 H OEt
O H H O H OEt
δ 7.87 δ 5.88 δ 8.20 O δ 7.34 O

Amides also show these chemical shift effects. Thus, for the two rotamers of the formamide below, the α-N
proton is 0.9 ppm downfield in the isomer with this proton close to the formyl oxygen (Buchi, G.; Gould, S. J.; Naf,
F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1971, 93, 2492 )
O 8.2 H 8.6
6.5 (d 5) 5.6 (d 5)
H H H O
N N

O O

N N
H H
There is some evidence that there is a shielding (-δ) region above the plane of the carbonyl group:

δ 0.90 δ 0.85
CH3 CH3

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.16 Delta

 Anisotropy of Nitro groups. The NO2 group may have a a small anisotropic effect similar to that of C=O groups,
with a deshielding (+δ) region in the plane of carbonyl group. The ortho protons of nitrobenzenes are strongly
downfield, in part due to this interaction. For example the proton Ha between the NO2 and Br groups (the small
downfield doublet) has a very similar electronic environment in the two compounds whose spectra are shown below.
The upper one has this proton upfield in part because the ortho-methyl group turns the nitro group out of the plane.
Of course, turning the nitro group also causes reduced resonance interactions, which causes a shift in the same
direction, as seen from the change in the proton ortho to the Me group (Hb).

O
H
Br N+
300 MHz 1H NMR spectra Ha
Source: Aldrich Spectra Viewer O
Br NO2 CH3

H CH3
Hb
-δ
O
+δ N O +δ
Ha
Ha Hb
O2N Br
-δ

CH3
Hb

8.4 8.3 8.2 8.1 8.0 7.9 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2
ppm

A similar chemical shift effect in a naphthalene is illustrated below:

∆δ 0.79 H NO2 ∆δ 0.02 H NO2

Me

∆δ 0.17 H H

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.17 Delta

 Anisotropy of Acetylenes. The magnetic anisotropy of C≡C bonds seems to be well-defined. Both the unusual
upfield shift of C≡C-H signals, and the downfield shifts of protons situated next to a triple bond as in the examples
below support a strong diamagnetic affect of electron circulation around the triple bond π system. .

+δ
CH3 CH3 CH2=CH2 HC≡CH
-δ C C -δ
δ 0.90 δ 5.25 δ 2.88
+δ
H

H
δ 2.48 CH H δ 3.01 CH3
H 3
δ 8.64 H δ 10.27 H

CH3 δ 2.52 CH3

∆δ 1.63 ppm
JOC 1984, 1323
∆δ 0.49 ppm
JOC 1984, 1323

Anisotropy of Nitriles. The cyano group presumably has the same anisotropy as the alkynyl group, as shown by
the examples below.

N N
H H H C
C H δ 9.7 H
OH

H C
δ 0.98 δ 0.96 t, J=11.5 Hz δ 1.24 N
Ed Piers, J. Wai, private commun ∆δ 1.0 ppm
ACIE 1975, 264

Anisotropy of Halogens. Protons positioned near lone-pair bearing atoms such as the halogens generally show
downfield shifts, as in the phenanthrene examples below. Interpretation of these ∆δ values is complicated by the
close approach of the X and H atoms, which can cause geometry and orbital distortions and affect the chemical
shifts.
8.64 H H X δ ∆δ
X
F 9.15 0.56
Cl 9.6 1.16
Br 9.83 1.39
MRC 1989, 13 I 9.9 1.46
ASV
Tet 1969, 4339

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.18 Delta

 Single Bond Anisotropy. Because of the many single bonds in typical organic molecules, each with local NA
anisotropic effects, it has been hard to define single bond chemical shift effects, and even harder to make practical
use of them. Nevertheless, useful stereochemical effects have been identified in several situations, loosely based
on a magnetic anisotropy of C-C single bonds in which flanking hydrogens are shifted upfield, end-on hydrogens
downfield. N
Axial and Equatorial Cyclohexane Shifts. In cyclohexane itself, as well as in most substituted and heterocyclic
6-membered rings the axial protons are upfield of the equatorial ones. Unfortunately, there are a few exceptions, and
so this chemical shift effect must be used with caution. Below some δe-δa values:
δe-δ
δa
γ
X α β γ
α X
β CH2 0.52 0.52 0.52 -δ
+δ
NH 0.48 0.12 0.45
H δ 1.62 H
NH2+ 0.47 0.16 0.34 +δ
H δ 1.14 O 0.50 -0.07 0.32 -δ

At -103 °C (Garbisch, J. Am. S -0.19 0.38 0.50 H

Chem. Soc. 1968, 90, 6543)
SO2 <0.10 0.17 0.45

One explanation for this shift effect is based on the anisotropy cones shown in the figure, where the equatorial
protons reside in the deshielding (+-δ) region of the C-C anisotropy, and the axial in the -δ region. An alternative
explanation, or additional contributing effect, is based on the supposition that a C-H bond is a stronger σ donor than C
a C-C bond, which leads to increased electron density in the axial protons (anti to two C-H bonds), hence -δ. The
variation in 1JCH has also been interpreted in these terms.
A more complicated bicyclic ring system shows several shifts that are consistent with the chemical shift effect δeq
> δax, and one exceptions:
5.22
5.25
4.17 5.66
2.78
H
H H 2.47
O H 2.41
H 2.32
H O MRC 1987, 843
O H 2.50
3.96 H 2.27
H
1.74 H H 2.38
2.04

Substituent effects on cyclohexanes (Anteunis Tetrahedron Lett. 1975, 687):

+0.08 +0.16 +0.07 +2.26 +0.45

H H H H H OH
+0.04 +0.01 -0.27
H CH3 H OH H H +2.29
-0.01 H H +0.06 H H -0.08 H H
+0.02 +0.20 -0.01

H H H H H H
-0.03 -0.27 +0.04 -0.04 +0.06 +0.27

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.19 Delta

 Assignment of syn and anti Aldol Adducts. A similar type of single bond anisotropy has been used to rationalize
the empirical observation of a systematic variation in the chemical shift of the CHOH proton in syn and anti isomers
of aldol products (δsyn > δanti) that can be used to assign configuration, although such assignments should be viewed
as less definitive than other methods, because of the usual problem with interpreting small chemical shift differences
(Kalaitzakis, D.; Smonou, I.; J. Org. Chem. 2008, 73, 3919-3921). The argument is that in the favored conformation
of the hydrogen bonded anti isomer the carbinol proton is in a pseudo-axial orientation subject to similar anisotropy
effects as an axial cyclohexane proton, whereas in the syn isomer the proton is pseudo-equatorial.

H
OR
OH O O
Me
H O H
O δ 3.81
Et
syn
H
OR
OH O O
Me
Et O H
O
δ 3.57 H
anti

Cis-Substituent effect in Rigid Rings. Chemical shifts in rigid bicyclic or polycyclic systems can provide some
insights into general chemical shift effects, although care must be utilized because there are typically a number of
effects operating simultaneously. One example is the tendency for eclipsed or nearly-eclipsed cis-vicinal
substituents to cause upfield shifts relative to the trans proton (and also relative to the compound with hydrogen
replacing the substituent). In the dibenzobicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene system A the proton which is eclipsed (or nearly
so) with the R substituent is always upfield of the one trans to it, and upfield of the unsubstituted compound as well.
For the hexachloro bicyclo[2.2.2]heptane B this is also seen, although here the inherent shift difference is not known
since the compound with R = H has not been reported.
R δc δt δX R δc δt δX
HX H
R H 1.68 1.68 1.68
Cl6
Hc CN 2.15 2.93 3.40
Ht OAc 1.41 2.25 4.90 HX
CO2H 2.43 2.55 3.62
OH 1.18 2.19 3.94 Ht C6H5 2.38 2.83 3.87
OTs 1.50 2.08 4.88 R Cl 2.22 3.08 4.72
NH2 0.97 2.14 3.11
Hc OH 1.90 2.78 4.63
SPh 1.44 2.28 3.52
A B OAc 1.90 2.95 5.50
JOC 1966, 581 JACS 1963, 516

The upfield shift of cis substituents compared to trans is also seen in a series of succinic anhydrides:

X δ3c δ3t Jtrans Jcis

H 2.94 2.94 5.2 10.7

O Me 2.65 3.18 6.9 10.0 ASV
O O
AcO 3.03 3.39 6.3 9.6 ASV
AcS 2.97 3.48 6.9 10.7 ASV
H3c X HOCHN 2.87 3.26 6.2 9.9 ASV
H3t H2 CF3(O=)CHN 3.00 3.31 6.2 9.9 ASV
Ph 3.09 3.43 6.6 10.3 ASV

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.20 Delta

 Stereochemical Relations in Cyclopentanes. Because coupling constants are not very reliable for determining
stereochemical relationships in 5-membered rings, chemical shift effects such as the one discussed above have
been utilized more extensively than in cyclohexanes. It has been observed that in cyclopentanes, γ-butyrolactones
(Ollis JCS-PT1 1975, 1480) and tetrahydrofurans the diasterotopic chemical shift effect of a ring CH2 group is
consistently larger when flanking substituents are cis to each other (when the anisotropic effects of the C-C or C-O
bonds are additive) compared to when they are trans (both protons see the effect). More specifically, protons with
cis-vicinal substituents are generally shifted to lower δ values (upfield) than those with cis hydrogens.

∆δ < 0.3 ∆δ ca 1.0 ∆δ < 0.2 ∆δ > 0.5

H BzO H BzO H
H H
H H upfield
H

OR OR
C6H13 C5H11 C5H11 O
O C6H13 O O
JACS 1984, 2641
JACS 1992, 7318

2.0 ∆δ 1.25 ∆δ 0.75

2.65 2.32 2.73
H H H
2.0 H Ph H Ph
1.4 H 2.50 H 1.98 H

O O O
O O O O
O
JCS P1 1975, 1470 JCS P1 1975, 1470

Similarly, the chemical shift of a proton will be a function of the number of cis-alkyl substituents on the ring. To
use such chemical shifts it is necessary to have several members of a series for comparison.
δ 3.9
SePh SePh H
H δ 2.8 H δ 3.5 SePh

O C6H13 C6H13 C6H13

O O

JACS 1992, 7318

(see also TET 1986, 3013)

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.21 Delta

 Anisotropy of Cyclopropanes. The principal magnetic anisotropy of cyclopropane groups appears to be
shielding above the ring and deshielding in the plane of the ring, a ring current effect a little like that of benzene.

δ 3.99 δ 3.57 δ 4.24

-δ HO H
HO H HO H H 0.67
H 1.47
+δ +δ H
H H
-δ
H 2.32 0.44

JACS 1972, 2291 TET 1998, 337 TET, 1966, 2007 TET 1966, 2007 JACS 1972, 2291 JACS 1966, 5272
TET 1998, 337

O O
O O
H 4.95
O H O H
H 3.13 H 3.30
H 5.57 O O

JOC 1967, 939 H H

7.42 6.91 JACS 1965, 386 JACS 1965, 386

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.22 Delta

 5. Hydrogen Bonding Effects on Chemical Shifts - OH, NH and SH Protons. The chemical shifts of OH and
NH protons vary over a wide range depending on details of sample preparation and substrate structure. The shifts
are very strongly affected by hydrogen bonding, with large downfield shifts of H-bonded groups compared to free OH
or NH groups. Thus OH signals tend to move downfield at higher substrate concentration because of increased
hydrogen bonding. Both OH and NH signals move downfield in H-bonding solvents like DMSO or acetone.
There is a general tendency for the more acidic OH and NH protons to move further downfield. This effect is in
part a consequence of the stronger H-bonding propensity of acidic protons, and in part an inherent chemical shift
effect. Thus carboxylic amides and sulfonamides NH protons are shifted well downfield of related amines, and OH
groups of phenols and carboxylic acids are dowfield of alcohols.

Recognizing Exchangeable Protons. In many samples NH and OH protons can be recognized from their
characteristic chemical shifts or broadened appearance. When this fails, the labile protons can be identified by
shaking the sample with a drop of D2O, which results in disappearance of all OH and NH signals. This works best if
the solvent is water immiscible and more dense than water (CDCl3, CD2Cl2, CCl4) since the formed DOH is in the
drop of water floating at the top of the sample where it is not detected. In water miscible solvents (acetone, DMSO,
acetonitrile, pyridine, THF) the OH and NH signals are largely converted to OD and ND, but the DOH formed
remains in solution and will be detected in the water region.

Hydroxyl OH Protons. In dilute solution of alcohols in non hydrogen-bonding solvents (CCl4, CDCl3, C6D5) the
OH signal generally appears at δ 1-2 At higher concentrations the signal moves downfield as a result of increased
fraction of H-bonded alcohols, e.g. the OH signal of ethanol comes at δ 1.0 in a 0.5% solution in CCl4, and at δ 5.13
in the pure liquid (from Bovey).

60 MHz NMR spectra of ethanol at various concentrations

(from Bovey, p 84).
O
H-O H CH2-CH3
Neat

10% EtOH in CCl4 H-O

H-O

5% EtOH in CCl4

0.5% EtOH in CCl4

H-O

5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5
ppm

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.23 Delta

 Dynamic Exchange. Under ideal conditions OH groups of alcohols can show sharp signals with full coupling to
neighboring protons even at room temperature, as in the spectrum of neat ethanol above, and in the spectrum of
1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-1-pentyn-3-ol below.

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3 3

JH-OH = 6.2 Hz
Source: Olafs Daugulis/Vedejs H

1275.1

1268.9
O H
Ph H-O

4.25 4.20 1.85 1.80

7 6 5 4 ppm 3 2 1 0
More typically, signals for OH protons are subject to rapid (on the NMR time scale) intermolecular exchange
processes, which may result in broadening or complete loss of coupling to neighboring protons. Such exchange can
also broaden or average the signals of multiple OH, NH or SH groups in the sample, if more than one is present.
Any water present might also exchange with the R-OH protons. The rates of exchange are a complex function of
temperature, solvent, concentration and especially the presence of acidic and basic impurities. In CDCl3 the
presence of acidic impurities resulting from solvent decomposition often leads to rapid acid catalyzed exchange
between OH groups. In contrast, solvents like DMSO and acetone form strong hydrogen bonds to the OH group.
This has the effect of slowing down the intermolecular proton exchanges, usually leading to discrete OH signals with
observable coupling to nearby protons. Note the triplet and doublet for the HOCH2 group in the spectrum below
taken in DMSO.
300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in DMSO-d6
H2N
Source: Aldrich NMR Library

HO

7.0 6.5 6.0 ppm 5.5 5.0 4.5

In the remarkable NMR spectrum of the OH region of sucrose below (Adams, Lerner J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992,
114, 4828) all of the OH signals and their coupling are resolved in aqueous acetone solvent.
500 MHz 1H NMR spectrum of sucrose (2:1 acetone-d6/H2O at -20°) 6g
H OH
4g
H
3f O 1f
4f OH
4 g HO
HO OH H
g HO H
3g 2 3 g
H HO
g
H HO
H 2 O f
4 OH
f
1 6f , 6g 6f

HO
f
H
3

6.7 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5
ppm

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.24 Delta

 Phenols. The OH signals of phenols are generally well downfield of those of alcohols, appearing at δ 5-7 in CDCl3,
and δ 9-11 in DMSO. The higher acidity of phenols results in faster exchange rates, so that polyphenolic compounds
will usually show only one OH signal.
In DMSO solution, even the exchange between carboxylic acid protons and other OH groups can be slowed
enough to allow individual observation, as in the spectrum of 2-hydroxycinnamic acid below.

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in DMSO-d6

Source; Aldrich NMR Library
O

HO

HO
C9H8O3

12 11 10 ppm 9 8 7 6
β-Dicarbonyl Compounds. Especially dramatic shifts are observed for the strongly intramolecularly H-bonded enol
forms of β-dicarbonyl compounds, o-ketophenols and related structures.

δ 15.84 δ 17.08 H δ 12.02

H H O O
O O O O O O

5.40 1.98 4.46 2.16

SMe
90% 10%
Favored by polar solvents OH δ 5

Carboxylic Acids. Most carboxylic acids are strongly hydrogen bonded in non-polar solvents, and the OH protons
are correspondingly downfield shifted. Acetic acid dimer in Freon solvent (CDClF2/CDF3) at 128 K appears at δ 13.04,
and the OH signals of acetic acid hydrogen bonded to a protected adenosine under conditions of slow exchange
appear at even lower field (Basilio, E. M.; Limbach, H. H.; Weisz, K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 2135).

CH3
CH3 O 8.5/8.6 O
13.04
H H
O H O N O
O
CH3 CH3 H H 14.9
16.3 N
O H O N

N N
SiiPr3

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.25 Delta

 Amine and Amide N-H Protons. NH2 protons of primary alkyl amines typically appear as a somewhat broadened
signal at δ 1-2 in CDCl3. The broadening has several sources: partially averaged coupling to neighboring protons,
intermolecular exchange with other NH or OH protons, and partially coalesced coupling to the quadrupolar 14N nucleus
(I = 1), which usually has a short T1. In the example below, the CH2 group bonded to amino (δ 2.82) shows little
indication of coupling to the NH2 protons, so NH exchange must be rapid on the NMR time scale. The amide proton at
δ 7.1 is broadened by residual coupling to 14N, not by exchange, since the N-CH2 signal is a sharp quartet ( the vicinal
HN-CH2 and CH2-CH2 couplings are accidentally equivalant).

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3

Source: Aldrich NMR Library
Note: triplet
Note: quartet
JHCCH = JHCNH

O 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.7

NH2
N
H

7 6 5 ppm 4 3 2 1

The N-H signals of ammonium salts are strongly downfield shifted, typically appearing at δ 4-7 in CDCl3 and δ 8-9 in
DMSO. If spectra are taken in strongly acidic solvents (e.g. trifluoroacetic acid), where intermolecular exchange is
slowed, the signals are sometimes very broad, and can show poorly resolved 1H-14N J coupling (1:1:1 triplet, JHN ≈ 70
Hz).

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3

Source: Aldrich NMR Library CH2
NH2

NH2

NH3+ Cl

7 6 5 ppm 4 3 2 1 0

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.26 Delta

 Aniline NH Protons. The NH protons of anilines are typically at δ 3.5-4.5 in CDCl3 solution, moving downfield by 1-2
ppm in DMSO solution. o-Nitroanilines (ca δ 5-6) and heterocyclic amines such 2-aminopyridines (δ 4.5) have signals
downfield of this range.

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in DMSO-d6 NH2

Source: Aldrich NMR Library

OH

7.0 6.5 6.0 ppm 5.5 5.0 4.5

Amide NH Protons. Amide NH signals typically appear around δ 7, as in the example of N-acetylethylenediamine
above and N-methylpropionamide below. They are generally in slow exchange with other NH and OH signals. Thus,
neighboring protons will show coupling to the NH proton, as in the examples, where the CH2 bonded to the amide
nitrogen is a quartet and the N-Me group is a doublet. The amide N-H protons are typically broad from poorly resolved
coupling to 14N, so the coupling to neighboring protons is usually not resolved in the NH signal.

300 MHz 1H NMR

spectrum in CDCl3.
Source: Aldrich NMR N-CH3
Library O
Hz
40 20 0
N
C4H9NO H

2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2

1.201.151.10
7.0 6.8 6.6

7 6 5 ppm 4 3 2 1 0

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.27 Delta

 Thiol S-H Protons. S-H protons of alkyl thiols typically appear between δ 1.2 and 2.0 in CDCl3. The position is not
strongly affected by hydrogen bonding solvents like acetone or DMSO, since SH protons are only weakly hydrogen
bonded. Coupling to nearby protons is usually seen, although broadened or fully averaged signals are not uncommon,
especially in molecules containing OH protons (or in impure samples).

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3

Source: Aldrich NMR Library
SH
C3H8S2
SH

3.2 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2
ppm

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3-DMSO-d6

Source: Aldrich NMR Library

HO SH
OH SH
OH OH 3.03
1.99
C3H8O2S
1.04 1.00 0.96

4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0

ppm

Aryl thiol S-H signals are further downfield, typically δ 3.5-4.5, as a result of normal ring-currrent effects, and the
greater electron withdrawing effect of aryl vs alkyl groups.

300 MHz 1H NMR spectrum in CDCl3 SH

Source: Aldrich NMR Library

Br

7.40 7.35 7.30 7.25 7.20 7.15 7.10 7.05

7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0
ppm

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.28 Delta

 Selenol and tellurol protons (SeH and TeH) behave like thiol protons, but appear further upfield -- around δ 0 for
SeH and δ -3 to -5 for TeH. Below a comparison of the NMR spectra of benzylselenol and benzylthiol. Note that both
the Se-H and S-H protons are coupled to the CH2 group (AX2 pattern).

SeH Me4Si

Hz
30 20 10 0

3.9 3.8 3.7 0.1 0.0 -0.1

SH

3.75 3.70 3.65

1.75 1.70

7 6 5 4 ppm 3 2 1 0

revised 43-12

Reich, U.Wisc. Chem. 605 5-HMR-2.29 Delta