Finite perturbation theory-density functional theory calculation of the spin-dipolar contribution to NMR spin-spin coupling constants

In this work an implementation of the FPT-DFT approach for calculating the spin-dipolar contribution to NMR spin-spin coupling constants is presented. This method was tested in a set of small molecules, giving results in excellent agreement when comparing them with values taken from the literature, which were obtained with state-of-the-art calculations. To obtain an insight into the relative importance of the spin-dipolar contribution in unsaturated compounds, calculations of J(F,C), J(F,F) and J(F,H) couplings in 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-difluorobenzenes were performed. An important spin-dipolar contribution to 3 J(F, F) and 5 J(F,F) was found, suggesting that this term might be important in some cases. When performing DFT calculations the non-singlet instabilities usually found in unsaturated compounds are overcome.