1. Texas Lutheran University 1 H NMR Interpretation: A New Tool for Students John V. McClusky Texas Lutheran University

2. Why Teach NMR Interpretation? Necessary for molecular identification Important for teaching problem solving skills –Complex and abstract –Must concentrate on details and big picture –“You guess, you loose”

3. Texas Lutheran University The Process Students must use –Integration Number of hydrogens making the peak –Multiplicity Number of adjacent hydrogens –Chemical shift Functional groups Determine the molecular structure

4. Texas Lutheran University The Problem Doesn’t look like

5. Texas Lutheran University Typical Student Errors Ignore integration, multiplicity, or chemical shift Interpret multiplicity incorrectly –n+1, n, or n-1? –Switch integration and multiplicity Force spectrum to “match” preconceived molecule

6. Texas Lutheran University NMR Mosaic Goals Make NMR Interpretation more concrete Reinforce need to use all data –Chemical shift –Multiplicity –Integration Visualize relationship between multiplicity and connectivity Retain all problem-solving aspects

7. Texas Lutheran University NMR Mosaic Spectral peaks Molecular fragments Molecule fit mismatch Finished Revise --

8. Texas Lutheran University Strengths of the NMR Mosaic Requires use of integration, chemical shift, and multiplicity Accentuates interpretation errors Eases interpretation of complex multiplets Illustrates relationship between connectivity and multiplicity Helps students understand and visualize NMR interpretation

9. Texas Lutheran University Mosaic Pieces H | ─C─ | H CH 3 Funct. Grp. CH 3 Funct. Grp ++= H | ─C─ | H Peak is from Splitting indicates Chemical shift Final mosaic piece a CH 2 adjacent CH 3 indicates adjacent functional group Students add static clings to generic pieces to produce a custom piece encoding connectivity and functionality

10. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl

11. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H

12. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H CH 2

13. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp.

14. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl X- H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp.

15. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H CH 2 CH 3 X- H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp.

16. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H CH 2 CH 3 H | H─C─ | H CH 2 X- H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp.

17. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp. X- H | ─C─ | H CH 2 CH 3 H | H─C─ | H CH 2 1-chloropropane

18. Texas Lutheran University NMR Mosaic Simplifies Interpretation of Complex Multiplets Adjoining pieces specify connectivity Interpretation is no longer “impossible”

19. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl

20. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2

21. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2 H | ─C─ | H Undetermined Splitting

22. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2 H | ─C─ | H Undetermined Splitting H | H─C─ | H CH

23. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2 H | ─C─ | H Undetermined Splitting H | H─C─ | H CH H | H─C─ | H CH 2

24. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2 H | ─C─ | H Undetermined Splitting H | H─C─ | H CH H | H─C─ | H CH 2

25. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 4 H 9 Cl X- H | ─C─ | Funct. Grp. CH 3 CH 2 H | H─C─ | H CH H | H─C─ | H CH 2 H | ─C─ | H CH CH 3 2-chlorobutane

26. Texas Lutheran University NMR Mosaic Helps Students Catch Mistakes Mosaic pieces no longer match Focus students on incorrectly interpreted peaks

27. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl

28. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | H─C─ | H CH 2 H | ─C─ | H CH 3 H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp. X- Incorrect Match ↑

29. Texas Lutheran University Example: C 3 H 7 Cl H | H─C─ | H CH 2 H | ─C─ | H CH 2 Funct. Grp. X- Corrected Piece Matches H | ─C─ | H CH 2 CH 3

30. Texas Lutheran University Computer Version Same basic format as “hardware” version Extensive help section Over 50 problems, many including Infrared, 13 C NMR, and reaction sequences Student answers to problems are checked for correctness

31. Texas Lutheran University Main Program Work Area

32. Texas Lutheran University

33. Student Experiences Students found the NMR Mosaic a great aid in NMR Interpretation Much higher percentage of students successfully solved problems Allows much more realistic problems on exams Better students weaned themselves off NMR Mosaic Students had a much stronger understanding of NMR interpretation

34. Texas Lutheran University NMR Mosaic: Key Features Requires use of Integration, Multiplicity, and Chemical Shift Accentuates students’ interpretation errors Eases interpretation of complex multiplets Reinforces relationship between multiplicity and connectivity Can be used with thousands of spectra EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

35. Texas Lutheran University Acknowledgement Texas Lutheran University www.tlu.edu/nmr