Comparison of the electronic and steric structures of 1-vinyl-and 1-(prop-1-en-1-yl)pyrroles according to the 1H and 13C NMR data

According to the 1H and 13C NMR data, 1-isopropenylpyrroles are characterized by larger dihedral angles between the heteroring and exocyclic double bond planes, as compared to isostructural 1-vinylpyrroles, due to steric effect of the α-methyl group in the propenyl fragment. As a result, p-π conjugation with the propenyl group is weaker than with the vinyl group. The propenyl group in 1-isopropenylpyrrole having no other substituents in the heteroring is forced out from the heteroring plane, while the 1-vinylpyrrole molecule is planar. If substituents are present in positions 2 and 5 of the pyrrole ring, the propenyl group on the nitrogen atom becomes orthogonal with respect to the pyrrole ring plane, so that no p-π conjugation is possible. The steric structures of (E)-1-(prop-1-en-1-yl)pyrrole and (Z)-1-(prop-1-en-1-yl)pyrrole are different: the propenyl group in the former is turned relative to the heteroring plane, while the latter molecule is planar.