Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of 1JCC and nJCC Coupling Constants in Strychnine

A relatively unexplored and unexploited means of establishing molecular structure, stereochemistry, and probing vicinal bond angles is through the use of long-range C-13-C-13 coupling constants. The measurement of these multifunctional, diagnostic (3)J(CC) couplings has not been reported on sample amounts viable for the practicing organic chemist. A generalized protocol for the measurement of (1)J(CC) and (3)J(CC) couplings using a 4.6 mg sample of strychnine as a model compound is described, and the utility of DFT calculations for the prediction of these useful molecular descriptors and the congruence of the calculated and experimental data is demonstrated.