Exposing students to the wealth of heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy in an undergraduate curriculum can be challenging as it requires access to an NMR instrument and a large library of compounds spanning a range of nuclear spins. Therefore, spectroscopic investigations of compounds containing nuclei such as 2D, 19F, 31P, and 195Pt are often not included in the undergraduate Chemistry curriculum. A workshop using a library of NMR spectra collected from synthesized compounds provides an opportunity to expose students to the applications of NMR outside of proton and carbon. Focused on peer-to-peer learning and problem solving, the workshop takes a sequential approach where students first predict the NMR spectra of compounds that do not contain NMR-active heteronuclei. They predict the approximate chemical shift and coupling patterns and are then provided the actual spectra to evaluate their predictions. Then, a heteroatom with an I &gt; 0 is introduced into the structure and students are asked to predict how the NMR spectrum will change. For example, the 13C NMR of deuterated benzene is compared to protonated benzene. The spectra range in complexity so that students can think of the impact of spin, symmetry and multiple NMR-active nuclei as they progress in the exercise. After making predictions for all the complexes containing NMR-active heteroatoms, students are provided with the entire collection of NMR spectra and must assign each molecule to its spectrum while evaluating their predictions. Examination of the actual spectra results in discussion as students work together to resolve differences in their predictions and reality.

Broadening the undergraduate NMR experience:  An in-class activity focused on NMR spectra containing NMR-active heteronuclei

2019 Spring National Meeting

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