High resolution 1 H and 13 C NMR resonance assignments and conformational assignments were carried out for four t(3)-benzyl-r(2),c(6)-bis(aryl)piperidin-4-ones 1-4 and their four N-nitroso-t(3)-benzyl-r(2),c(6)-bis(aryl)piperidin-4-ones 5-8. In addition to conventional 1D NMR methods, 2D shiftcorrelated NMR techniques ( 1 H-1 H COSY and 1 H-13 C COSY) were used for signal assignments. At room temperature the t(3)-benzyl-r(2),c(6)-bis(aryl)piperidin-4-ones 1-4 exist in only one isomeric form whereas their N-nitroso derivatives 5-8 exist in two isomeric forms. The preferred conformations of both the isomeric forms of nitrosamines were determined by comparison of the spectral data with those of the corresponding parent amines 1-4 and with the aid of substituent parameters. The results indicate the presence of an equilibrium mixture of boat forms B 1 and B 2 for Z isomers of 5-8. For the E isomers of 5-8, boat form B 1 is predicted to be the major conformer. The piperidin-4-ones 1-4 exist in normal chair conformations with equatorial orientations of all the substituents.