Origins of Small Proton Chemical Shift Differences in Monodeuterated Methyl Groups

We have recently shown that the small proton chemical shift difference in 2-methyl-1-(methyl-d)piperidine supports a long-lived nuclear spin state. To identify additional candidate molecules with CH₂D groups exhibiting accessible long-lived states, and to investigate the factors governing the magnitude of the shift differences, we report a computational and experimental investigation of methyl rotational equilibria and proton chemical shifts in a variety of 2-substituted 1-(methyl-d)piperidines. The polarity and size of the 2-substituent affect the 1,2-stereoisomeric relationship, and consequently, the strength of the rotational asymmetry within the CH₂D group. Nonpolar and large 2-substituents prefer the equatorial position, and relatively large shift differences (i.e., > 13 ppb) are observed. Polar and small substituents, however, increasingly prefer the axial position, and medium to small shift differences (i.e., 0 to 9 ppb) are observed. In addition, the diastereotopic CH₂D proton chemical shift difference for tricarbonyl(1-chloro-2-deuteriomethylbenzene) chromium(0) was computed, showing that reasonable predictions of these small shift differences can be extended to more complex, organometallic species.