Natural abundance O-17 nmr chemical shift data for 8 aryl esters and 10 pyridine carboxy esters, including 6 ortho-hydroxy esters, recorded in acetomitrile at 75-degrees are reported. The carbonyl group O-17 nmr chemical shift data for methyl 2-, 3- and 4-pyridinecarboxylate are correlated with sigma+ constants. The hydrogen bonding component (DELTA-delta(HB)) to the ester carbonyl O-17 nmr chemical shift for the intramolecular hydrogen bonded ortho-hydroxy systems are 9.8 ppm, 13.6 ppm and 4.3 ppm for benzoates, 2-pyridinecarboxylates and 4-pyridinecarboxylates, respectively. The relationships of the ester DELTA-delta(HB) values to other hydrogen bond acceptor DELTA-delta(HB). values are discussed.