Real-time mechanistic monitoring of an acetal hydrolysis using ultrafast 2D NMR

Ultrafast (UF) 2D NMR makes it possible to obtain a 2D NMR spectrum in less than a second. Here, UF‐HSQC experiments are used for the real‐time mechanistic study of an acetal hydrolysis at ¹³C natural abundance, and it is possible to characterize the presence of the hemiacetal, an intermediate with a well‐known short lifetime. The assignments are confirmed and rationalized by quantum calculations of ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and natural bonding orbital analysis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. UF‐HSQC experiments are used for the real‐time mechanistic study of an acetal hydrolysis at 13C natural abundance, and it is possible to characterize the presence of the hemiacetal, an intermediate with a well‐known short lifetime. The results are confirmed by quantum chemical shift theoretical calculations.