13C, 14N, 15N and 17O NMR spectra of nitropyrroles and nitroimidazoles

Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen NMR spectra of some nitro derivatives of pyrrole and imidazole have been investigated. The ¹³C chemical shifts of para-carbons and the ¹⁷O chemical shifts of the nitro group correlate qualitatively with the electron densities on these carbon and oxygen atoms, which in turn depend upon the degree of conjugation of the nitro groups with the heterocyclic ring. Conjugation of several nitro groups with the benzene ring is in most cases not impaired by mutual interactions and the ¹³C shifts show good additivity. Such additivity is much worse in pyrrole and imidazole derivatives. Taken together with the diamagnetic nature of these deviations from additivity, this leads to a possible conclusion about the less pronounced conjugation of the nitro groups with the heterocyclic ring in heterocyclic dinitro derivatives.