Two Different Approaches to Pulse Sequence Classification

There are two approaches to pulse sequence classification depending on the user s occupation. For the chemist who has to solve a structural question or characterize a new compound it is the spectra obtained from the pulse sequence that is of primary importance. The NMR spectroscopist is usually more concerned with the pulse sequence structure and choice of experimental parameters and whether a particular pulse sequence can be improved or modified to solve a specific problem. These two different approaches lead to confusion in pulse sequence nomenclature such that names are often a combination of the purpose of the experiment and the sequence layout. For example the commonly used acronyms HMQC, HSQC and HMBC imply a consistent abbreviation system yet HMQC and HSQC describe the coherence state during the evolution time whilst HMBC denotes an experiment to correlate nuclei using multiple bond heteronuclear scalar coupling. 

Number and types of isotopes. Functional groups using chemical shift correlation charts 

Number of sensitive nuclei bonded to a insensitive nucleus 

Detection of neighbouring I and I or S Detection of neighbouring I and S nuclei and S nuclei through 1, 2 or 3 bonds through 1, 2 or 3 bonds 

On the other hand the NMR spectroscopist is more interested in the pulse sequence construction, the underlying coherence evolution and the possible transfer to specific quantum states. In addition they are also concerned with selecting the correct values of delays, spectrometer routing, pulse lengths, detection mode and gradient strengths. 

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