Orientational effect of aryl groups on 77Se NMR chemical shifts: experimental and theoretical investigations.

The orientational effect of p-YC6H4 (Ar) on delta(Se) is elucidated for ArSeR, based on experimental and theoretical investigations. The effect is examined in the cases in which Se--CR in ArSeR is either in the Ar plane (pl) or is perpendicular to the plane (pd). 9-(Arylselanyl)anthracenes (1) and 1-(arylselanyl)anthraquionones (2) are employed to establish the effect in pl and pd, respectively. Large upfield shifts are observed for Y=NMe2, OMe, and Me, and large downfield shifts for Y=COOEt, CN, and NO2 in 1, relative to Y=H, as is expected. Large upfield shifts are brought by Y=NMe2, OMe, Me, F, Cl, and Br, and downfield shifts by Y=CN and NO2 in 2, relative to Y=H, with a negligible shift by Y=COOEt. Absolute magnetic shielding tensors of Se (sigma(Se)) are calculated for ArSeR (R=H, Me, and Ph), assuming pl and pd, based on the DFT-GIAO method. Observed characters are well explained by the total sigma(Se). Paramagnetic terms (sigmap(Se)) are governed by (sigmap(Se)xx+sigmap(Se)yy), in which the direction of np(Se) (constructed by 4pz(Se)) is set to the z axis. The main interaction in pl is the np(Se)-pi(C6H4)-pz(Y) type. The Y dependence in pl occurs through admixtures of 4pz(Se) in pi(SeC6H4Y) and pi*(SeC6H4Y), modified by the conjugation, with 4px(Se) and 4py(Se) in sigma(CSeX) and sigma*(CSeX) (X=H or C) under a magnetic field. The main interaction in pd is the sigma(CSeX)-pi(C6H4)-px(Y) type, in which Se-X is nearly on the x axis. The Y dependence in pd mainly arises from admixtures of 4pz(Se) in np(Se) with 4px(Se) and 4py(Se) in modified sigma*(CSeX), since np(Se) is filled with electrons. It is demonstrated that the effect of Y on sigmap(Se) in the pl conformation is the same regardless of whether Y is an electron-donor or electron-acceptor, whereas for pd conformations the effect is greater when Y is an electron donor, as observed in 1 and 2, respectively. Contributions of each molecular orbital and each transition on sigmap(Se) are evaluated, which enables us to recognize and visualize the effect clearly.