1H NMR Measurement of the Trans–Cis Photoisomerization of Cinnamic Acid Derivatives
Basil Danylec and Magdy N. Iskander
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
1H NMR spectroscopy was used to follow the course of the photochemical conversion of methyl p-hydroxy-trans-cinnamate to the thermodynamically less stable cis isomer. Integration of the new olefinic cis proton doublet (5.66 ppm, J = 12.9 Hz), which was then compared to the trans isomer (6.15 ppm, J = 15.9 Hz), allowed the determination of the relative amounts of these two isomers.
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