600 MHz NMR spectrometer with a broadband cryoprobe cooled by liquid nitrogen

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 578653149

A 600 MHz NMR spectrometer with a broadband cryoprobe (nitrogen-cooled) is being requested to replace the currently available 600 MHz NMR instrument for all chemical research at the University of Wuppertal (BUW). The high-resolution spectrometer will be used across various research groups for structural elucidation of new compounds not yet described in the literature, food analysis, and the investigation of reaction mechanisms and dynamics. These studies primarily involve complex structures with multiple stereocenters, such as polyketides, pentacyclic triterpenes, and peptides, which are often available only in small quantities. A 600 MHz NMR spectrometer is the minimum requirement for these tasks. Furthermore, high sensitivity, achievable only with a cryoprobe, is crucial. This allows for 13C measurements even at low sample amounts with sufficiently good signal-to-noise ratios within reasonable measurement times. Shorter measurement times also enable significantly more efficient use of the instrument. Additionally, the cryo-technology facilitates 13C,13C-INADEQUATE experiments for elucidating compounds with many quaternary carbons (e.g., pentacyclic triterpenes and other natural products) and direct 15N measurements. Both capabilities are particularly important for the research described in Chapter 3 at BUW. Successful completion of further projects also requires heteronuclear NMR measurements, including 11B, 15N, 19F, 29Si, 31P, 51V, 69Ga, 77Se, 119Sn, 195Pt, and 207Pb. A broadband cryoprobe enables measurements of all these nuclei. Currently, BUW has two high-resolution NMR spectrometers: a Bruker AVANCE 400 MHz with a 5-mm BBO probe and an AVANCE III 600 MHz with a 5-mm BBI, a 10-mm SEX, and a 3-mm TXI probe. These instruments are central to the analytical services of the Chemistry and Biology departments and are used by all chemistry- and biology-focused research groups. The 400 MHz instrument is now 30 years old, has reached the end of its service life, and is no longer supported by Bruker, while the 600 MHz instrument has recently been quenched and is expected to be inoperable. Therefore, the focus of this application is the acquisition of a new 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. In parallel, a separate application (Research Major Equipment under Art. 91b GG) is being submitted for a 500 MHz NMR spectrometer with a broadband room-temperature probe to replace the 400 MHz instrument. Approval of this funding is critical to maintaining ongoing cutting-edge research in chemistry and biology at BUW.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: NMR-Spektrometer 600 MHz mit Stickstoff-gekühltem Breitband-Kryo-Probenkopf
• Instrumentation Group: 1740 Hochauflösende NMR-Spektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Bergische Universität Wuppertal
• Leader: Professor Dr. Stefan F. Kirsch