1. What is NMR?
NMR is a technique used to probe the structure of molecules.
Paired with other techniques such as MS and elemental analysis it can be used to successfully predict the structure of organic molecules.
H1 NMR of Ethanol
C13 NMR of Ethanol

2. How it works?
Atoms behave a little bit like magnets

3. Atoms have a property called spin angular momentum (I).
This can assume values of 0, 1 2 , 1, 3 2 , 2, 5 2 …
It is determined by the number of unpaired protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Protons and nucleons (nucleons) have a spin number of 1 2

4. I
Nuclide
12C, 16O
1H, 13C, 15N, 19F, 29Si, 31P 1
2H, 14N
11B, 23Na, 35Cl, 37Cl
17O, 27Al 3
10B

5. Nuclei with spin can either:-
Line up with the magnetic field
or oppose the magnetic field
Nuclei which oppose the field have a higher energy than those aligned. This gap in energy, ∆E, can be measured.
Nuclei in a low energy state can be promoted to a higher energy state if energy, equal to ∆E is provided. This is called excitation. This will soon drop back to the lower energy state, called relaxation. This process is called resonance.

6. What affects the magnetic field?
The strength of the field felt by each nucleus in a molecule is affected by two factors:-
The strength of the field
Shielding generated by a weak magnetic field generated by the electrons surrounding the nucleus.

7. Energy
Shielding
The amount of shielding and absorbed energy is called a chemical shift, δ

8. Energy
Shielding

9. The δ Scale Measured against a standard, TMS. Why TMS?
It is chemically unreactive
It has 12 equivalent protons and one carbon environment which give one sharp and easily measured peak on both 13C and 1H spectra.
It’s nuclei are heavily shielded so there are rarely peaks below it
It is volatile and easily removed from a sample after

10. Solvents
NMR is usually carried out in solution. Most solvents are organic and therefore contain both carbon and hydrogen which would give peaks. Deuterated solvents are used instead. Deuterium produces no 1H NMR signal. It’s 13C is easily recognised and removed by computer software.

11. Carbon-13 NMR
13C nuclei can be excited using a magnetic field of the energy corresponding to its energy gap. The size of the energy gap differs depending on the electron density around each nuclei.

12. Carbon-13 NMR
The number of peaks in the NMR spectra is equal to the number of carbons in chemically different environments.

13. Step 1: Predict the number of environments

14. Step 1: Predict the number of environments3 2

15. Predict the number of carbon environments in each of these examples
phenol

16. Predict the number of carbon environments in each of these examples2 4 1 4
phenol

17. Step 2: Predict Each Carbon’s Chemical Shift
e.g. 2 1 3
Carbon
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1 2 3

18. Step 2: Predict Each Carbon’s Chemical Shift
e.g. 2 1 3
Carbon
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1
C-O
60ppm 2
C-C
30ppm 3
C=O (carboxylic acid)
180ppm

19. Did we get it right? 2 1 3

20. Predict the chemical shift for each carbon in1 3
Carbon
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1 2 3 4 2 4

21. Predict the chemical shift for each carbon in1 3
Carbon
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1
C-C
40ppm 2
C=O (ketone)
200ppm 3
C=C
130ppm 4
120ppm 2 4

22. Did you get it right?

23. Final Note
phenol
1 aromatic environment
4 aromatic environments

24. Proton NMR
The number of peaks in the NMR spectra is equal to the number of hydrogens in chemically different environments.

25. Step 1: Predict the number of different environments and therefore the number of peaks

26. Step 1: Predict the number of different environments and therefore the number of peaks4 2

27. Predict the number of proton environments in each of these examples

28. Predict the number of proton environments in each of these examples4 2 1 4

29. Step 2: Predict Each Protons’ Chemical Shift
e.g. 1 3
Proton
Relative Area
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1 2 3 4 2 3 4

30. Step 2: Predict Each Protons’ Chemical Shift
e.g. 1 3
Proton
Relative Area
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1
O-H
1-12 2
O-CH
3-4.5 3
O=CCH
2-3 4
COOH
11-12 2 3 4

31. Did we get it right?

32. Predict the chemical shift for each proton in
Relative Area
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1 2

33. Predict the chemical shift for each proton in
Relative Area
Functional Group
δ / ppm 1 6
R-CH
1-22 2 4
1-2

34. Did you get it right?

35. Spin-spin coupling
On high resolution proton NMR you may see little clusters rather than a single peak. These ‘clusters’ can help you identify the number of protons in the environment next to it.

36. The N+1 Rule N N+1 Multiplicity 0+1 = 1 Singlet 1 1+1 = 2 Doublet 2
0+1 = 1
Singlet 1
1+1 = 2
Doublet 2
2+1 = 3
Triplet 3
3+1 = 4
Quartet
The relative intensities of the lines can be determined by Pascal’s triangle.
i.e. a doublet has a relative intensity of 1:1
a triplet has an intensity of 1:2:1
a quartet has an intensity of 1:3:3:1
The gap between the peaks also stays the same and is determined by the adjacent proton environment, this is called the coupling constant.

37. The N+1 rule
We can use the N+1 rule to identify how many protons are in the environment next to it. Example.

38. The N+1 rule
We can use the N+1 rule to identify how many protons are in the environment next to it. Example.
Look at this CH2 group, it has a CH3 group next to it, with 3 protons.
3+1 = 4,
Therefore we expect to see 4 mini peaks next to it, or a quartet.

39. The N+1 rule
We can use the N+1 rule to identify how many protons are in the environment next to it. Example.
Look at this CH3 group. It has no protons next to it.
0+1 = 1, therefore we expect to see one peak, or a singlet.

40. Therefore we expect to see 3 miniature peaks, or a triplet.
The N+1 rule
We can use the N+1 rule to identify how many protons are in the environment next to it. Example.
Look at this CH3 group. It has a CH2 group next to it. The CH2 group contains 2 protons.
2+1 = 3
Therefore we expect to see 3 miniature peaks, or a triplet.

41. The N+1 Rule, 2nd Example
This aldehyde proton has a CH3 group next to it.
3 + 1 = 4,
Therefore we see a quartet group.

42. This CH3 group has a group next to it with one proton.
The N+1 Rule, 2nd Example
This CH3 group has a group next to it with one proton.
1 + 1 = 2, therefore we
see a doublet.