Solvent dependence of 13CH and HH coupling in acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide

Abstract The coupling constants J13CH and JHH for acetone and dimethyl sulfoxide were measured in a variety of solvents. J13CH for acetone was found to vary by up to 1.5% and JHH by up to 30%. The magnitudes of these variations are in almost linear relationship with the carbonyl 13C and 17O chemical shifts in the same solvent. A reason for this is sought in polar structures caused by the formation of hydrogen bonds and favoured by the polarity of the solvent. J13CH for dimethyl sulfoxide also varies with the solvent but JHH remains constant.