Tautomerisation in 1-(4-Methylphenylazo)naphthalen-2-ol and 2-(4-Methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol: A Crystallographic and 13C{1H}NMR Study

The acetic acid esters of 1-(4-methylphenylazo)naphthalen-2-ol 1 and 2-(4-methylphenylazo)-4-methylphenol 3 are prepared and characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and 13C{1H}NMR spectroscopy; the position of the C(2) 13C resonance for the ester is used to predict the position of resonant frequency of the equivalent carbon in the parent alcohols and hence, calculate the position of the azo-hydrazone equilibrium in these compounds.