Nuclear magnetic resonance advantages

Proton chemical shift data from nuclear magnetic resonance has historically not been very informative because the methylene groups in the hydrocarbon chain are not easily differentiated. However, this can be turned to advantage if a polar group is present on the side chain causing the shift of adjacent hydrogens downfteld. High resolution C-nmr has been able to determine position and stereochemistry of double bonds in the fatty acid chain (62). Broad band nmr has also been shown useful for determination of soHd fat content. 

Modern spectroscopy plays an important role in pharmaceutical analysis. Historically, spectroscopic techniques such as infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS) were used primarily for characterization of drug substances and structure elucidation of synthetic impurities and degradation products. Because of the limitation in specificity (spectral and chemical interference) and sensitivity, spectroscopy alone has assumed a much less important role than chromatographic techniques in quantitative analytical applications. However, spectroscopy offers the significant advantages of simple sample preparation and expeditious operation. 

Within the past two decades, the importance of nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy has enlarged tremendously. Its advantages over other methods in the structural and conformational analysis of such complex molecules as natural products, and particularly with regard to the still-increasing importance of medical investigations using n.m.r. techniques, is abundantly evident. Because destruction of the sample is avoided, different n.m.r. experiments can be performed repeatedly, and... 

Control analyses rely on the use of appropriate procedures or measurements assuring the identity of the materials involved in each step of the manufacturing process from receipt of raw materials to delivery of the finished products. NIR spectroscopy is an advantageous alternative to wet chemical methods and instrumental techniques such as IR, Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies for positive identification. 

An alternative method for fractionating and purifying petroleum hydrocarbons prior to GC or HPLC separation has been developed (Theobald 1988). The method uses small, prepacked, silica or Cjg columns that offer the advantage of rapid separation (approximately 15 minutes for a run) good recovery of hydrocarbons (85% for the Cjg column and 92% for the silica column) reusability of the columns and for the silica column in particular, good separation of hydrocarbon from non-hydrocarbon matrices as may occur with environmental samples. Infrared analysis and ultraviolet spectroscopy were used to analyze the aromatic content in diesel fuels these methods are relatively inexpensive and faster than other available methods, such as mass spectrometry, supercritical fluid chromotography, and nuclear magnetic resonance (Bailey and Kohl 1991). 

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