A 1H NMR study of tautomerism in some 1-arylamino-3-aryliminopropenes

¹H n.m.r. spectra at ambient temperatures reveal that an equilibrium exists between the ‘all-trans’ and ‘all-cis’ isomers of some of the 1-arylamino-3-aryliminopropenes. The ‘all-cis’ isomer predominates in nonpolar solvents, whereas the ‘all-trans’ isomer is favoured in hydrogen bonding solvents. From a consideration of the magnitudes of the ³J coupling constants, it is reported that the ‘cis-trans’ isomer is the most stable form of the 4-nitrophenyl derivative in dimethyl sulphoxide.