Eclipsed Conformation of the Exocyclic N-CH2 Bond in N-Neopentylpiperidines and the Stereodynamic Consequences As Studied by Dynamic NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Mechanics Calculations

The dynamic stereochemistry of a range of N-neopentylpiperidines 1 with an eclipsed N-CH2-t-Bu bond is compared with that of the corresponding range of N-ethylpiperidines 2 with a gauche N-CH2Me bond. By using dynamic NMR spectroscopy, the relative importance of ring inversion, exocyclic bond rotation, and nitrogen inversion are elucidated and barriers are reported and discussed. Minor populations of the neopentyl-axial-eclipsed conformation are detected directly and identified with the help of molecular mechanics calculations. The corresponding N-alkylpyrrolidines are also reported.