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ACD/Labs Blog

Although a 1H-13C HMBC experiment may take a long time to collect with adequate signal-to-noise, it can offer an idea as to which signals belong ‘together’. Generally, signals belonging to the same structure leave a trail of connectivity information via long range correlations. If the atoms belong to the same structure, then a typical HMBC...

The past few blogs, Part 3 and Part 4, have examined impurity(ies) identification from short-range 2D NMR experiments without much success. If proton singlets, possibly attributed to impurities, are to be distinguished from the main unknown, then long-range 2D NMR experiments may help out by establishing long-range correlations to other atoms. A 1H-1H TOCSY experiment...

Certain NMR experiments offer clues to differentiate a signal from the main unknown and from the impurity(ies). Some clues are not as obvious as others and so it takes a little practice to understand what to look for in a dataset. A 1H-1H double quantum filter (DQF) COSY experiment (shown below) is used to filter...

In the series Distinguishing Impurities, Part 1 pointed to certain signs in which an elucidator can differentiate a signal as pertaining to an impurity and not to the main unknown. Part 1 also made reference to using 2D NMR data as a practical approach to ascertain whether a signal from a 1H NMR was an...

A previous blog described how integrals and coupling information can assist in discerning an unknown structure signal from an impurity(ies).  Before proceeding to acquire 2D NMR data to confirm the information, there is the option to purify/rewash the sample (assuming there is enough sample to do this) followed by a spectral comparison of the before...

One of the trickiest parts of interpreting NMR data is identifying what signal belongs to the unknown compound and what can be classified as an impurity. In this case, impurities are described as extra signals coming from a solvent(s), a side product(s), extraction/purification process, etc. The 1H NMR spectrum below is for an unknown compound....

Yes, it is possible to elucidate an unknown with just a 1H NMR spectrum but only for specific cases*. Case 1: an unknown with a low molecular weight and a “well-resolved” 1H NMR spectrum. Case 2: the unknown has been identified previously, or at least part of it, in a database/library/literature and a spectrum search...

Infrared (IR) spectrometry can serve as a simple method to gather information on the presence of OH. Characteristic OH absorptions occur around the ranges of 3700-3200 cm-1 (OH stretching) and 1200-1000 cm-1 (OH bending). In the case of hydrogen-bonded OH, the band in the region 3700-3200 cm-1 generally appears broad and sometimes can go unnoticed....

Typically, structure elucidation via NMR can be ascribed by a stepwise workflow: 1. a sample is prepared for NMR, 2. the NMR instrument is optimized for data collection, 3. NMR data is acquired, 4. the spectral data is processed, 5. the spectral data is searched/compared to an internal database for possible hits or similarities, 6....

Here is a lesson I learnt over time while working on small molecules—my Elucidation Evolution. Thinking back to when I started doing elucidations of unknowns, my mindset was to collect loads of data (NMR, MS, IR, etc.) whether I needed it or not. Initially inexperienced, I was extracting bits and pieces of information from various...