1H–1H internuclear distance measurements in carbohydrates: proton transient nuclear Overhauser enhancement and spin-lattice relaxation in (13C)- and (2H)-substituted compounds

Proton transient nuclear Overhauser enhancement (TnOe) and spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) have been used to evaluate the conformations of several monosaccharides and disaccharides containing (13C) and (2H) substitution. Absolute 1H–1H internuclear distances were determined by TnOe and DESERT (deuterium substitution effects on relaxation times) experiments on conformationally rigid methyl β-D-galactopyranoside and α- and β-D-xyloses, respectively. The DESERT method was extended to examine O-glycoside conformation in two blood-group disaccharides that were prepared enzymically with (13C) and (or) (2H) substitution. Preferred disaccharide conformations deduced from these distance measurements are compared to those determined from 13C–13C and 13C–1H spin coupling constants, theoretical calculations, and crystallographic studies.