700 MHz NMR Spectrometer

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 536629433

High-resolution NMR spectroscopy is the most important and powerful analytical method in modern organic chemistry. The high-field device previously used as part of the MagRes NMR network in the MagRes spectrometer pool at the Institute of Organic Chemistry's analysis center is a 500 MHz NMR device that was put into operation in 1997. The insufficient detection sensitivity or spectral resolution in characterizing very small sample amounts or poorly soluble organic compounds by NMR requires a device with a higher magnetic field strength. In addition, the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Freiburg has grown significantly in recent years and now consists of 6 working groups (3 x W3 (“mit Leitungsfunktion”), 2 x W3 (“ohne Leitungsfunktion”), 1 x junior research group leader). Therefore, to carry out research work, a high-frequency 700 MHz device with a Prodigy probe, i. e. a nitrogen-cooled cryoprobe head, is needed. Such a device should enable the organic-synthetic and analytical research groups of organic chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Freiburg to tackle research projects that could previously only be addressed with some restrictions due to limited NMR equipment available. In order to ensure the most comprehensive NMR capacity possible with a focus on heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy (i.e. different nuclei to be measured), the purchase of a broadband probe head is planned. Since the synthesis or isolation of chemical compounds with highly complex structures often only produces small amounts of substance or – especially in the field of materials science – a large number of quaternary, poorly relaxing sp2-hybridized carbon atoms, the NMR device should be equipped with a nitrogen-cooled cryoprobe in order to achieve the necessary sensitivity for the special projects mentioned. At the same time, such a high-field device, which is not yet available in Freiburg, will significantly upgrade the NMR network MagRes, since the measurement time is reduced by a factor of 10 compared to an NMR spectrometer with a room temperature probe head and the sensitivity is correspondingly higher even with the smallest amounts of sample. With the purchase of such a spectrometer, the competitiveness of the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in the field of structural analysis will be secured both nationally and internationally within the next decade.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 700-MHz-NMR-Spektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1740 Hochauflösende NMR-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Daniel B. Werz