Abstract

The review covers the use of chemical shifts, isotope effects on chemical shifts and coupling constants in the description of Schiff bases. o-Hydroxy Schiff bases are often tautomeric and special attention is devoted to this feature. Nuclei in question are 1H, 13C, 15N, 19F and 17O. As well primary as secondary isotope effects are treated. Deuterium isotope effects on 13C and 15N chemical shifts are treated in detail and the theoretical background is dealt with. Finally, various applications of Schiff bases in biology and stereochemistry are discussed.

Keywords: spectroscopy, NMR, Hydroxy Schiff Bases, chemical shifts, stereochemistry