We report through-space (TS) (19)F-(19)F coupling for ortho-fluoro-substituted Z-azobenzenes. The magnitude of the TS-coupling constant ((TS) JFF ) ranged from 2.2-5.9 Hz. Using empirical formulas reported in the literature, these coupling constants correspond to non-bonded F-F distances (dFF) of 3.0-3.5 Å. These non-bonded distances are significantly smaller than those determined by X-ray crystallography or density functional theory, which argues that simple models of (19)F-(19)F TS spin-spin coupling solely based dFF are not applicable. (1)H, (13)C and (19)F data are reported for both the E and Z isomers of ten fluorinated azobenzenes. Density functional theory [B3YLP/6-311++G(d,p)] was used to calculate (19) F chemical shifts, and the calculated values deviated 0.3-10.0 ppm compared with experimental values.

A conformational analysis of o-fluoro Z-azobenzene reveals a slight preference for aromatic C-F/π interaction. Density functional theory (DFT) indicates that the conformation with a C-F/π interaction is preferred by approximately 0.3-0.5 kcal/mol. Ground-state conformations were corroborated with X-ray crystallography. (Z)-Azobenzene (Z-AB) with at least one o-fluoro per ring displays (19)F-(19)F through-space (TS) coupling. 2D J-resolved NMR was used to distinguish through-bond from TS coupling ((TS)JFF). (TS)JFF decreases as the temperature is lowered and the multiplets coalesce into broad singlets. We hypothesize that the coalescence temperature (Tc) corresponds to the barrier for phenyl rotation. The experimentally determined barrier of 8-10 kcal/mol has been qualitatively verified by DFT where transition states with a bisected geometry were identified with zero-point energies of 6-9 kcal/mol relative to ground state. These values are significantly higher that values estimated from previous theoretical studies but lie within a reasonable range for phenyl rotation in hydrocarbon systems.