Selective proton–carbon nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurements have been widely used to analyse through-space proton–carbon interactions. Intermolecular interactions between adenosine and thymidine have been studied by means of selective {H}C-NOE spectroscopy. Moreover, the role of proton chemical exchange in determining {H}C-NOE has been considered. A combined use of homo- and hetero-nuclear selective NOE to account the chemical exchange contribution to the experimental {H}C-NOE has been proposed.