Azine-nitrogen atom, steric effect

Steric hindrance to activation by carboaromatic nitro groups is well-known, but there seems to be no analogy in the chemistry of azines. The lone-pair of azine-nitrogen has a steric effect comparable " to, somewhat greater than, or somewhat less " than a hydrogen atom. It is not certain whether bulky groups such as i-butyl produce a steric distortion of the lone-pair orbital and whether activation or deactivation results. 

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