A quantitative application of the J-based configuration analysis method to a flexible small molecule.

An example of the use of the J-based configuration analysis method to determine relative stereochemistry of a small molecule related to reboxetine is described. This study was complicated by the fact that the molecule did not exhibit J-couplings and NOEs consistent with a single conformation, but rather an ensemble average. A quantitative fitting procedure using predicted couplings and NOEs from all possible conformers was used. This gave a clear indication of the stereochemistry, and the populations of the conformers involved.