DFT and experimental determination of conformations of 2‐(ethoxycarbonylmethoxy)‐5‐(arylazo)benzaldehydes and their oximes

2‐(Ethoxycarbonylmethoxy)‐5‐(arylazo)benzaldehydes 1–4 and their oximes 5–8 were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The favoured conformations of aldehydes 1–4 and oximes 5–8 were predicted theoretically. Selected geometrical parameters and charges were derived from optimized structures. IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR data were also computed using Gaussian‐03 package and compared with the observed values. ¹⁵N and ¹⁷O chemical shifts were also determined theoretically. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.