Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an invaluable tool for structure elucidation of organic molecules, and experience interpreting a variety of NMR experiments is increasingly expected of students entering the chemical industry or graduate studies. At the same time, rising instrument and cryogen costs have made routine high-resolution NMR access out of reach for many small undergraduate institutions. We describe how we used the MestreNova software suite as an affordable teaching tool in an upper-division Organic Structure Elucidation course at PLNU. Using an unlimited perpetual license for MestreNova, we were able to allow each student to perform their own hands-on processing and analysis of real, high-resolution, 2D NMR data (acquired by the instructor at an off-site NMR facility) on their own computers. These analyses complemented the students’ on-site acquisition and analysis of IR, GCMS, and low field (60 MHz) NMR data, allowing them to put together the structure of two unknown compounds in the half-semester course. Final exam and student evaluation data for two offerings of the course – one with and one without a high-field NMR on site – revealed little difference in student problem-solving skills or attitudes toward the course. This strategy represents an affordable way to increase access to modern NMR structure elucidation methods.

Hands-on NMR experience without the NMR: Using MestreNova to teach an undergraduate organic structure elucidation course without an on-site high field NMR

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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