Alkanes with multiple asymmetric centers: synthesis, identification, and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra

Abstract

The identification of aliphatic hydrocarbons containing multiple asymmetric centers can be difficult because of the complexity of the nmr spectra and because in capillary chromatography the diastereomers may be resolved to varying degrees. We suggest that the most effective method for identifying such hydrocarbons is through the pattern of retention times developed by the mixture of diastereomers on a suitable capillary glc column.This paper presents the results of some studies of a series of alkanes having the general form C 2 H 5 —(CH—CH 3 ) n —R, where n = 1 to 4, and includes the syntheses and 13 C nmr spectra of the compounds.