Analysis of the NMR parameters shielding and spin-spin coupling constants of glycine conformers

Abstract

In this study, we worked at the CCSD/aug-cc-pVTZ level to obtain the conformers of glycine in its neutral and zwitterionic forms in the gas and water phases. We then computed the NMR properties (spin–spin coupling constants and nuclear magnetic shieldings) at the SOPPA/aug-cc-pVTZ-J level. We attempt to elucidate the apparent discrepancy arising from two previous works by Valverde et al. [J. Chem. Phys., 2018, 148, 024305] and Caputo and Provasi [Sci, 2021, 3, 41]. Our optimized structures align with previous theoretical predictions, although some geometries were not found. Additionally, our results suggest that in the gas phase the Δ 1J(O,C) = 1J(Ocis,CO) – 1J(Otrans,CO) is positive when the acid group is in the trans conformation and negative in the cis conformation; however, this trend is not well reproduced in water. From magnetic shielding calculations, we cannot distinguish between an O–H in the cis or trans conformation.