Abstract
The 1Hmr spectra of 20 catechin derivatives substituted at C-6/C-8 by bromine and/or hydrogen and at oxygen by methyl, acetyl, and/or hydrogen have been analyzed in deuterated acetone, acetonitrile, and chloroform. Because of its dependence on the nature of the solvent and of the oxygen substituent, the difference between H-6 and H-8 chemical shifts has been found to be an unreliable criterion for the distinction between 8-bromo and 6-bromo isomers. In methylated catechins, double irradiation of H-8 and H-6 enhances one (MeO-7) and two (MeO-5 and MeO-7) methoxy signals, respectively, via the nuclear Overhauser effect. This permits unambiguous assignment of chemical shifts to all ring A protons. The H-6 and H-8 resonance frequencies of catechin have been determined by decoupling of the OH-5 and OH-7 protons.