CH3···O Hydrogen Bond. Implications of Its Presence from the Substituent Effects on the Populations of Rotamers in 4-Substituted 9-Ethyl-1-methoxytriptycenes and 9-(Substituted Phenoxymethyl)-1,4-dimethyltriptycenes

Abstract

In the series of 4-substituted 9-ethyl-1-methoxytriptycenes, the populations of the sc conformer increase as the electron-density on the 1-methoxy–oxygen decreases. This trend was interpreted on the basis of steric repulsion which should increase as the electron density on the oxygen atom becomes high. In contrast, in the series of 9-(substituted phenoxymethyl)-1,4-dimethyltriptycenes, the high electron density on the aryloxy–oxygen favors the sc form. The stabilization of the sc form relative to the ap in the high electron density compounds in the latter series is attributed to the presence of CH3···O hydrogen bond, since other factors like Coulombic interactions, van der Waals repulsions, and van der Waals attractions could be excluded from being the main factor for the stabilization.