Electron-withdrawing effect of α-substituents in acyl nitrates on the polarization of the O–NO2 bond

Regularities in the Raman ( v NO 2 s ) and 14 N NMR spectra of acetyl nitrates containing various electron-withdrawing α-substituents were established by quantum chemical calculations. The experimental data on (poly)-α-haloacetyl nitrates (in solutions) revealed no reliable relationship between the halogen nature/number and the spectral characteristics, whereas the computed values of δ N and O–NO 2 bond lengths disclose the substituent effect on the polarization of O–N bond and hence on the nitrating power of acyl nitrates.