[EtOH]

quick question for ya, in a molecule of Ethanol the CH2 is split by the CH3 into a quartet but how come it's not split into a doublet by the H connected to the O? The H connected to the O is also not split into a triplet by the CH2 and what is the reason for that?


anton

[Custos]

The absence of coupling results from rapid exchange of the OH protons via an acid base mechanism. Because of rapid exchange the identity of the spin state of the acidic proton is lost. In aprotic solvents and at very low temperatures to slow down exchange the coupling can be observed.