Abstract: Configurational analysis can be used as a probe for association constants for chelation of amides with alkali metals. Carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy indicates that tertiary amides 1, 2, and 3, each bearing a triethylene oxide substituent at nitrogen, exist as a mixture of E and Z isomers. Addition of alkali metal cation (KSCN) increases the concentration of species with the Z configuration since this configuration can chelate ...