CONFORMATIONAL STUDIES OF GLYCOLALDEHYDE AND 1,3-DIHYDROXYACETONE IN SOLUTION BY H-1-NMR

The 1H-NMR spectra of glycolaldehyde and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone in dimethyl sulfoxide-d6 are reported. Assignments of resonances and spin-spin couplings are made. The spectrum of glycolaldehyde in equilibrium DMSO-d6 solution is interpreted in terms of five different molecular species, viz. two six-membered ring dimers, two five-membered ring dimers and one monomer. The spectrum of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone proves that four different molecular species, viz. two six-membered ring dimers, one five-membered ring dimer and one monomer, exist in equilibrium DMSO-d6 solution. The approximate concentration of each species is estimated from the integrated intensity for both compounds. © 1979.