Structural investigations, i.e. solid-state (X-ray), solution ( 1 H NMR) and gas-phase (theoretical), on molecules with the general formula MeOC(LS)N(H)C 6 H 4 -4-Y: Y 5 H (1), NO 2 (2), C(LO)Me (3), Cl (4) have shown a general preference for the adoption of an E-conformation about the central C-N bond. Such a conformation allows for the formation of a dimeric hydrogen-bonded { … H-N-CLS} 2 synthon as the building block. In the cases of 1-3, additional C-H … O interactions give rise to the formation of tapes of varying topology. A theoretical analysis shows that the preference for the E-conformation is about the same as the crystal packing stabilisation energy and consistent with this, the compound with Y 5 C(LO)OMe, (5), adopts a Z-conformation in the solid-state that facilitates the formation of N-H … O, C-H … O and C-H … S interactions, leading to a layer structure. Global crystal packing considerations are shown to be imperative in dictating the conformational form of molecules 1-5.