Rotation of molecular hydrogen in Si: unambiguous identification of ortho-H(2) and para-D(2)

E Elinor Chen1, Michael Stavola, W Beall Fowler

  • 1Department of Physics, Sherman Fairchild Laboratory, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.

Related Concept Videos

Molecular Orbital Theory II03:51

Molecular Orbital Theory II

Molecular Orbital Energy Diagrams
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I03:24

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I

The mathematical expression known as the wave function, ψ, contains information about each orbital and the wavelike properties of electrons in an isolated atom. When atoms are bound together in a molecule, the wave functions combine to produce new mathematical descriptions that have different shapes. This process of combining the wave functions for atomic orbitals is called hybridization and is mathematically accomplished by the linear combination of atomic orbitals. The new orbitals that...
¹H NMR Chemical Shift Equivalence: Enantiotopic and Diastereotopic Protons00:58

¹H NMR Chemical Shift Equivalence: Enantiotopic and Diastereotopic Protons

Replacing each alpha-hydrogen in chloroethane by bromine (or a different functional group) yields a pair of enantiomers. Such protons are called prochiral or enantiotopic and are related by a mirror plane. Enantiotopic protons are chemically equivalent in an achiral environment. Because most proton NMR spectra are recorded using achiral solvents, enantiotopic hydrogens yield a single signal.
In chiral compounds such as 2-butanol, replacing the methylene hydrogens at C3 produces a pair of...
¹H NMR of Labile Protons: Deuterium (²H) Substitution00:48

¹H NMR of Labile Protons: Deuterium (²H) Substitution

This lesson illustrates the role of deuterium substitution in simplifying the NMR spectrum of compounds comprising labile protons. One method employed is the use of deuterium. Amongst the three isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium (2H) has a nucleus composed of one proton and one neutron. When the D2O solvent is added to a pure dry ethanol solution, its labile proton is substituted with deuterium.
¹H NMR Chemical Shift Equivalence: Homotopic and Heterotopic Protons01:03

¹H NMR Chemical Shift Equivalence: Homotopic and Heterotopic Protons

Protons in identical electronic environments within a molecule are chemically equivalent and have the same chemical shift. The replacement test is a useful tool to identify chemical equivalence and predict NMR spectra. A substituent replaces each of the protons being examined and the resulting molecules are compared. If the same molecule is obtained, the protons are equivalent or homotopic. Replacement of any hydrogens in ethane by chlorine yields chloroethane because all six protons are...
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH301:11

ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3

All ortho–para directors, excluding halogens, are activating groups. These groups donate electrons to the ring, making the ring carbons electron-rich. Consequently, the reactivity of the aromatic ring towards electrophilic substitution increases. For instance, the nitration of anisole is about 10,000 times faster than the nitration of benzene. The electron-donating effect of the methoxy group in anisole activates the ortho and para positions on the ring and stabilizes the corresponding...