NMR study of E/Z isomerism in N‐alkoxybenzoimidic acid derivatives

Well defined E/Z isomers of N‐methoxy‐p‐nitrobenzimidoyl chloride, N‐methoxybenzimidoyl chloride, methyl N‐methylbenzohydroximate and ethyl N‐hydroxybenzimidate were prepared in order to provide model data for studies of benzhydroximic acid derivatives and related compounds. NMR parameters [¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shifts and ¹J(¹³C, ¹³C) coupling constants] were determined. The results show that stereochemically most significant are the values of ¹J(¹³C, ¹³C) couplings between aromatic C_ipso and C?N carbons and that the relationship, |J_cis| > |J_trans|, known for this coupling from oximes, is not affected by electronegative substituents at the C?N carbon atom, but the values are. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.