Localized orbital studies of hydrogen bonding: III. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in 4-methylimino 2-pentanone

Abstract Geometry optimizations using the INDO molecular orbital method are carried out on the three possible isomeric forms of 4-methylimino- 2-pentanone. It is found that the molecule strongly prefers a structure containing a hydrogen-bonded chelate ring. Of the two possible isomers containing an intramolecular hydrogen bond, only the structure with the chelated proton closer to the oxygen corresponds to an energy minimum, although the energy surface connecting these two isomers is very flat. The results are interpreted using experimental and calculated NMR properties and energy localized molecular orbitais.