500 MHz NMR spectrometer console

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 466754611

This application is for a 500 MHz 2-channel NMR spectrometer replacement console with a new 60 positions sample changer. For all research groups located at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (IAC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in solution is the central analytical method. It is the routine method for both tracking chemical reactions and the analytical method for characterizing new compounds. At the IAC, we operate a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer, which was purchased and installed in spring 2004. In 2014, this was upgraded with a cryo probe based on liquid N2 BB/1H-19F (BB = 15N - 31P). This NMR spectrometer has by far the highest sensitivity for the hetero nuclei in the entire department. However, only the 600 MHz NMR spectrometer in Organic Chemistry offers even higher sensitivity exclusively on 13C and 1H with the helium-based dual cryo probe. For all 125 chemically synthetic working staff, this 500 MHz spectrometer is essential and accordingly it is fully utilized 24/7/365. Here all samples are measured that require high dispersion and highest sensitivity and whose spectra are to be published. Furthermore, VT measurements from minus 40 to plus 80 degree C as well as X/19F double resonance NMR experiments are routinely performed as this instrument has a cooling unit and a 1H/19F high performance preamplifier. The instrument is available to all working groups in the house, but is operated exclusively in service. From our point of view, the replacement is urgent, as the spectrometer console will be 17 years old this year and the manufacturer has already discontinued support for this console generation in December 2016. Since the existing sample changer with 60 positions is not compatible with the new console, a new sample changer has to be requested at the same time. Even though the NMR spectrometer is currently still functional except for minor issues, due to its large number of coworkers, the institute cannot afford a prolonged outage or defect of this spectrometer, e.g., due to missing spare parts that are no longer available. Since this NMR instrument represents the spearhead of our nuclear magnetic resonance department and is our most important workhorse, a timely replacement is imperative.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 500 MHz NMR-Spektrometerkonsole
• Instrumentation Group: 1740 Hochauflösende NMR-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Holger Helten