Natural abundance O-17 and C-13 NMR spectra for eleven diarylketenes a
re reported. O-17 shifts show invariance with para substitution and a
shielding due to ortho substitution. A buttressing effect is observed
for bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentamethylphenyl)ketene. A comparison between keten
es and isocyanates is made. The importance of cylindrical symmetry for
half-height linewidths is discussed.