The role of nonbonding interactions and the presence of fluoride on the conformational isomerism of 1,2-ethanediol

Abstract

This work reports the analysis of the effects ruling the conformational preference of 1,2-ethanediol (1,2-ED) using theoretical calculations, since there is no general consensus about the role of intramolecular hydrogen bond on the conformational isomerism of 1,2-ED. While the predominance of the gauche conformers along with the OCCO fragment relative to the trans ones was found to be mainly due to hyperconjugation, the orientation of the hydroxyl groups is better described by a balance between low steric hindrance and high stabilization from hyperconjugation than by intramolecular hydrogen bond. Nevertheless, the presence of a fluoride anion induces a conformational change in 1,2-ED that maximizes hydrogen bonds between the fluoride and the hydroxyl groups. This effect was observed experimentally by the shift of 1H(O) and 19F NMR signals upon complexation, then suggesting that compounds containing the 1,2-ED moiety can be possible anion transporters.