This thesis explores the synthesis and conformational behaviour of hexahydropyrimidines and related heterocycles, with particular emphasis on 5- hyrdohexahydropyrimidines. The conformational behaviour of these compounds was investigated using dynamic NMR spectroscopy, molecular modelling techniques and X-ray crystal structure analysis. The conformational behaviour of 5- hyrdohexahydropyrimidine, hexahydropyrimidine and their analogous oxygen compounds as well as a series of hexahydropyrimidines with various exocyclic substituents, were examined. The preferred conformations of all these compounds are attenuated by a combination of steric and electronic influences. These influences include intramolecular hydrogen bonding as well as anomeric and gauche interactions. The conformational behaviour of the selected seven membered benzodiazepine rings, which share structural characteristics with the six-membered 5- hyrdohexahydropyrimidines was also explored. The increased flexibility of the seven membered rings facilitates intramolecular hydrogen bonding, which in turn retards ring inversion in these systems / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)