Exploring Conformational Preferences in XC(W)ZY Molecules With X, Y = F, Cl, Br and W, Z = O, S, Se: Unraveling the Influence of Conjugative and Anomeric Interactions

ABSTRACT The relative stabilities of the syn ‐ and anti ‐conformers of 72 molecules belonging to the XC(W)ZY type, with X, Y = F, Cl, Br and W, Z = O, S, Se, have been computed using the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVDZ approximation. The conformational preferences, represented by the energy differences between the two rotamers, exhibit a systematic trend in relation to both the halogen atoms and the chalcogen atoms. These computational predictions are in agreement with available experimental results. The NBO formalism was employed to assess the influence of both the conjugative and anomeric interactions on the relative energy of the conformers. It has been determined that the conjugative interaction provides a satisfactory explanation for the energy differences between rotamers. In contrast, the anomeric interactions favors the syn ‐conformation in all cases. The relative stabilities between XC(W)ZY/YC(W)ZX and XC(W)ZY/XC(Z)WY constitutional isomers have also been computed and correlated with the experimental data.