As a class of complex cross-linked phenolic macromolecules, lignin is an important component of plant-based biomass.1 Biologically, lignin is a major component of lignocellulose, helping to strengthen cell walls in wood. A by-product of paper production…

If there is one thing that I could say describes the holiday season best, it would have to be the delicious treats I get to indulge in, such as: gingerbread cookies, pies, peppermint bark, and so many more. Wafting in the aroma of baked goods always gives me butterflies in my stomach and lights up my nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) mind.

Let’s talk about Candy Corn and ask the question: what is really in candy? One thing I have noticed is that the nutritional facts on the back of the candy bag can be somewhat misleading.

In this ever-evolving world where technology and science keep pushing into new territory, new inventions are being made and state-of-the-art validation methods are being developed. Over the last few decades, lithium-ion batteries have gained more and more traction in their uses, moving from general simple batteries used for powering your calculator or phone, to cars and trucks, and even airplanes (currently only the small ones). However, as simple as batteries may seem, a lot of work must be done behind to scenes to develop these subtle but priceless additions to our lives.

What is process analytical technology (PAT) and why is it so important?PAT is an extremely powerful and useful tool for analyzing, optimizing and controlling chemical processes. Chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries could especially benefit from this technique. In earlier days, chemical processes were primarily monitored by physical techniques, such as temperature, pH, pressure etc..

In the average case one can simply dissolve an analyte in an appropriate deuterated solvent and acquire a simple 1D spectrum to obtain all the required structural information. However, sometimes doing so may not provide you with all of the information you need!

NMR spectra visualize the change in the Larmor frequency of each hydrogen atom in the analyte. This change is what we call the chemical shift of the signal which is dependent on electronic effects. Similar molecules show similar NMR spectra and this is another advantage of NMR spectroscopy compared to other analytical methods: Derivatives or in this case new psychological active substances or ‘designer drugs’ can be recognized as a potential illicit compound, which is what we are currently working on with police authorities in Germany. Benchtop NMR 1-855-NMREADY (667-3239) toll-free in the US and Canada

Drug discovery is a multi-billion dollar industry and chemists play an integral role in many points on the drug discovery roadmap.  To ensure the best possible drug candidate can be produced in the fastest, most efficient and economically friendly fashion, chemists perform innovative research from early-state development through the scaling-up process.  Many analytical techniques including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are crucial in the drug discovery process and chemists use these tools daily to characterize reaction products every step of the way.  Once a chemist’s reaction is complete and the desired product isolated, an NMR spectrum of the isolate is acquired.  The chemist then interprets the spectrum by assigning the peaks in the spectrum to the unique sets of protons (1H), or other atoms (13C, 31P, 19F, 11B, etc.), in their desired molecule; corroborating they have made what they sought to make when the reaction was started.

Who doesn’t want to start the day with a warm cup of coffee? Coffee has a stimulating effect on humans because of its caffeine content and for that reason it has become one of the most popular drinks in the world. Some clinical studies actually suggest that small amounts of caffeine everyday might be beneficial for adults. In this blog I am going to highlight an experiment done in collaboration with the Swager group at MIT using an organometallic complex to quantify the caffeine content in regular coffee without sample preparation!

In the average case one can simply dissolve an analyte in an appropriate deuterated solvent and acquire a simple 1D spectrum to obtain all the required structural information. However, sometimes doing so may not provide you with all of the information you need!