The nmr spectra of a series of isopropyl esters of a-hydroxy acids and their derivatives have been observed. It has been found that when the acid contains an asymmetric a-carbon atom and also an aromatic group, the isopropyl methyl protons are magnetically nonequivalent. If there is no aromatic function present, nonequivalence may be induced by acylation of the hydroxyl group. Similarly the methylene protons in propyl and isobutyl esters of tartartic ...
