Course Identification

The course will briefly cover the basic theory behind the advanced NMR experiments but the focus will be on practical aspects of these experiments, their demonstration as well as their set up, processing and analysis.

The schedule will consist of a mixture of 6 (2-hrs) lectures, 1 (2-hrs) tutorial and 4 (6-hrs) hands-on sessions (in groups of 3 students) on the NMR spectrometers in Sieff and UK buildings, where participants will get the opportunity to set up experiments and collect data.

Topics that will be covered:

• Brief introduction to the basic principles of NMR
• The NMR spectrometer and its operation
• Safety considerations in the NMR lab
• Sample preparation and NMR test tubes- special practical considerations
• Variable temperature experiments
• Towards data acquisition: lock, shim, wobb, pulse calibration etc
• Acquisition of an NMR spectrum, experimental parameters and their optimization.
• Data processing/ postacquisition aspects
• Sensitivity considerations in NMR experiments
• Special considerations in multinuclear NMR studies and particularly, studies of low g nuclei.
• Spin decoupling methods, composite pulse decoupling
• Modern techniques of Shaped Pulses and Pulsed Field Gradients (PFGs)
• Solvent suppression techniques
• Measuring T₁ and T₂ relaxation rates
• More advanced 1D experiments, including DEPT (¹³C) , NOE difference, saturation transfer (¹H), etc
• Dynamics studies by NMR
• Direct vs. inverse-mode experiments
• 2D NMR experiments, both homo and heteronuclear (as HSQC, HMQC, HMBC, H2BC, COSY, NOESY, ROESY etc).
• Diffusion studies by NMR (DOSY)- different pulse sequences and their advantages.
• New features in TopSpin software
• The basics of NMR pulse programming, AU programs and macros
• Important and useful Linux commands
• NMR Tips and Tricks in general

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

• Briefly explain the basic theory behind the advanced NMR experiments, with an emphasis on the practical aspects of these experiments.
• Apply the process of setting up an NMR experiment, by selecting and using the most appropriate parameters for its acquisition and processing.
• Differentiate between the various 2D NMR experiments, select and apply the most appropriate to their study.
• Analyze the results of 2D NMR experiments.
• Demonstrate skills in using many different 1D and 2D NMR methods.
• Implement the use of 1D and 2D NMR methods on the NMR spectrometers at WIS NMR labs.