The Geometrical Dependence of Experimental and Theoretical Nuclear Spin–Spin Coupling Constants in the 15NH2 Fragment
Approximate molecular orbital theory at the INDO level of approximation has been used to examine 1J(15N,H) and 2(HNH) in ammonia as a function of the HNH angle. The couplings are very sensitive to the value of the HNH angle in the range from 110 to 120°. The computed trends are compared with those observed in other compounds containing the 15NH2 fragment. The signs and magnitudes of 1J(15N,H) and 2J(HNH) have been measured for 2-aminoacetophenone at temperatures where the amino protons are nonequivalent. The observed and calculated results suggest that the amino group lies in the plane of the benzene ring. In aniline the magnitude of 2J(HNH) lies between 1 and 2 Hz and on the basis of the trends in the calculated and experimental values the sign can be confidently taken as negative.