Several di- and tri-substituted amides of the general formula, 2,6-X2C6H3NHCOCH3−iXi and 2,4,6-X3C6H2NHCOCH3−iXi (X = Cl or CH3 and i = 0, 1, 2, or 3) are prepared, characterised, and their infrared spectra in the solid state and 1H and 13C NMR spectra in solution are studied. The C=O stretching vibrations of N-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)- and N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-amides appear as strong absorptions in the ranges 1707 - 1658 cm−1 and 1700 - 1647 cm−1, respectively, while the N-H stretching vibrations of N-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)- and N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-amides appear as strong vibrations in the ranges 3271 - 3209 cm−1 and 3285 - 3214 cm−1, respectively. The N-H stretching vibrations of N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)- and N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)- amides also appear as strong absorptions in the ranges 3370 - 3212 and 3283 - 3225 cm−1, respectively, while those of the C=O vibrations appear in the ranges 1688 - 1617 and 1704 - 1647 cm−1. The analysis of the C=O and N-H absorption frequencies of all amides of the general formula XiC6H5−iNHCOCH3−iXi (where X = Cl or CH3, and i = 0, 1, 2 or 3) indicates that their variations do not show regular trends with substitution either in the phenyl ring or in the side chain. The chemical shifts of both the aromatic protons and the aromatic carbons of all the amides are calculated in two ways, either by adding the incremental shifts due to -COCH3−iXi groups and the substituents in the benzene ring to the chemical shifts of the corresponding aromatic protons or carbons of the parent aniline, or by adding the incremental shifts due to -NHCOCH3−iXi groups and the substituents in the benzene ring to the chemical shift of the benzene proton or carbon. The calculated chemical shifts of the aromatic protons and carbons of all the substituted amides by both methods lead to almost the same values in most cases and agree well with the observed chemical shifts, indicating that the principle of additivity of the substituent effects is valid in these compounds.
