Natural honey is considered of high nutritional value and consumed every day in households and food industry. The market demand for honey far exceeds global production. The EU, for example, being the second largest honey producer in the world, is only approximately 60 % self-sufficient. This motivated honey fraud, such as mislabelling or adulteration with inexpensive sugar syrup. According to a recent report by the EU joint research center [1], 147 out of 320 honey (46%) imported from 20 countries were suspicious. NMR is considered a useful tool for authenticating honey at chemical constitue ..read more

Several hyperpolarization techniques have emerged over the past few decades to address the sensitivity limitations of NMR. Among these techniques, Photochemically Induced Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (photoCIDNP) is one of the easiest to implement. In a simplistic way, all what is needed to enhance the signal in a photoCIDNP experiment is the addition of a photosensitizer molecule to your sample and to illuminate it with light of a suitable wavelength.  We have developed a setup that allows to measure such experiments in an automated way. The illumination of the sample is achieved via ..read more

Introduction In previous blog posts, we have reported on the potential of using a Spinsolve benchtop NMR spectrometer to monitor on-line different hydrogenations conducted on an H-Cube® Pro flow reactor. here. As a follow-up, in this application note, we demonstrate how straightforward it is to perform deuteration reactions employing the H-Cube Pro® flow reactor. This can be achieved by simply replacing the water used to produce H2 (electrolysis) with heavy water (Scheme 1). In this application note, we connected a Spinsolve 80 MHz ULTRA benchtop NMR spectrometer from Magritek at the outle ..read more

In both academic polymer research and industrial polymer production, it is crucial to regulate the molecular weight of polymers. This necessity arises from the fact that the macroscopic properties of polymers are predominantly dictated by their molecular structure and chain length. Therefore, understanding the molecular weight itself becomes imperative. While size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is frequently employed as the prevailing standard, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) serves as a valuable complementary method. NMR not only furnishes information on the molecular weight but also facilit ..read more

Introduction In a recent blog post, we demonstrated that coupling a Spinsolve benchtop NMR spectrometer to a continuous flow reactor can dramatically accelerate the optimization of the reaction parameters. Benchtop NMR spectroscopy provides online access to quantify the reaction conversion in real time as the reaction parameters are adjusted. The example chosen to test the setup and the performance of benchtop NMR was the hydrogenation reaction of the double bond in cinnamyl alcohol. In that case, the quantification of starting material and product was straightforward. The simplicity of the NM ..read more

Detecting residual solvents in pharmaceutical processes is crucial for pharmacopeial purposes. First, it ensures product quality by confirming that harmful or unwanted solvents are removed or below risk levels, preventing potential health hazards. Second, regulatory compliance often mandates limits on residual solvents to ensure product safety. Additionally, understanding and controlling solvent levels contribute to process efficiency and cost-effectiveness in industrial settings. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool. It provides detailed information abou ..read more

Molecular weight plays a critical role defining the physical properties of a polymer, like mechanical strength, degradation rate, and solubility. The two methods most commonly used method for determining molecular weight are size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and end group analysis, which are frequently employed to measure the number-averaged molecular weight (Mn) of a polymer. However, both methods have their limitations. SEC is restricted by the choice of solvent, polymer absorption to the column, and the consumption of large amounts of solvent. On the other hand, NMR end group analysis is ..read more

Deuterium NMR serves various chemical applications, enabling the tracing of reaction pathways and a deeper comprehension of their underlying mechanisms [1]. It also plays a crucial role in exploring biochemical to study metabolic pathways [2,3]. To achieve these goals, Deuterium labeling is employed to mark specific positions within molecules, significantly enhancing sensitivity. In one of our recent blog posts, we explored deuterated compounds and demonstrated that they can be easily and rapidly analyzed using benchtop NMR systems. However, when it comes to measuring deuterium NMR on natural ..read more

Introduction   The synergy between continuous flow reactors and benchtop Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has attracted significant attention in recent years due to its transformative impact on chemical synthesis and analysis. Continuous flow reactors offer distinct advantages, including precise control over reaction parameters, enhanced safety, and improved reaction efficiency. Conversely, benchtop NMR spectroscopy provides non-destructive, quantitative insights into reaction kinetics, intermediates, and final products. This integration enables real-time monitoring of the co ..read more

Brief background on phosphoramidite: importance, applications, and composition   The development of nucleoside phosphoramidite in 1981 marked a big milestone for the field of oligonucleotide synthesis research. It opened the doors for the development of a wide range of molecular biology applications including gene sequencing methods that enable the sequencing of the human genome. 1,2 Besides playing a critical role in molecular biology applications, oligonucleotides have also been developed to be Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).3 Figure 1. Chemical structure of an example phospho ..read more