How many signals would the product of the following reaction show in
a. its ¹H NMR spectrum?
b. its ¹³C NMR spectrum?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Analyze the reaction to determine the structure of the product. Identify the functional groups and symmetry elements in the molecule, as these will influence the number of unique environments for both hydrogen and carbon atoms.
2. For the 1H NMR spectrum: Identify all unique hydrogen environments in the product. Hydrogens in the same chemical environment (e.g., due to symmetry or identical surroundings) will produce the same signal. Consider factors like equivalent hydrogens on methyl groups, aromatic rings, or aliphatic chains.
3. For the 13C NMR spectrum: Identify all unique carbon environments in the product. Carbons in the same chemical environment will produce the same signal. Consider symmetry and the types of carbons present (e.g., sp3, sp2, or sp carbons, as well as carbons in identical functional groups).
4. Count the number of unique hydrogen environments to determine the number of signals in the 1H NMR spectrum. Ensure you account for any splitting patterns caused by neighboring hydrogens, though splitting does not affect the number of signals.
5. Count the number of unique carbon environments to determine the number of signals in the 13C NMR spectrum. Symmetry plays a significant role here, so ensure you carefully evaluate the molecule's structure for equivalent carbons.

Key Concepts

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to determine the structure of organic compounds. It relies on the magnetic properties of certain nuclei, primarily hydrogen (1H) and carbon (13C), to provide information about the number of unique environments in a molecule. The resulting spectra reveal signals corresponding to these environments, which can be interpreted to deduce molecular structure.

Chemical Environment

The chemical environment refers to the specific surroundings of a nucleus within a molecule, which influences its magnetic resonance signal. Factors such as electronegativity of nearby atoms, hybridization, and molecular symmetry affect the chemical shift observed in NMR spectra. Identifying unique chemical environments is crucial for determining the number of signals in both 1H and 13C NMR spectra.

Multiplicity and Integration

Multiplicity in NMR refers to the splitting of signals due to spin-spin coupling between neighboring nuclei, while integration indicates the relative number of protons contributing to a signal. Understanding these concepts helps in interpreting the complexity of the NMR spectrum, allowing chemists to deduce not only the number of signals but also the relationships between different hydrogen or carbon environments in the molecule.