Conformational analysis of N-benzyl-N-o-tolyl-p-methylbenzene-sulfonamides from dynamic 1H NMR experiments and theoretical calculations

Theoretical studies of molecular conformations of four N-benzyl-N-o-tolyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamides, by means of semiempirical PM3, ab initio (RHF and MP2) methods, and DFT approach, are presented and discussed in comparison with the experimental data. The free energy (DeltaG(#)) of rotation obtained by the dynamic shape analysis of the H-1 NMR spectra is ca.. 16 kcal/mol for those systems for which the barrier has been probed experimentally. Failure to determine the barrier in the experimental spectra in the case of one system is attributed to the chiral conformation of the global minimum. The rotational profile was established at the PM3 level and verified at the DFT level of theory. The solvent effect, the 0th-order vibrational corrections, and the temperature dependence of the Boltzman distribution of conformers and kinetic equilibrium are discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.