WSU NMR Project
General, Organic, and Biochemistry II - Dr. Nalli
In this course, which is primarily aimed at pre-nursing majors, we did a new ester preparation experiment to replace the macroscale Fischer esterification of 1-butanol with acetic acid. The experiment was adapted from an Internet source and allowed the students to work in groups to synthesize one of four different esters with interesting fragrances. We then did a follow up experiment wherein student groups prepared their ester sample for NMR spectroscopy then observed while the instructor demonstrated the instrument in the process of obtaining carbon-13 spectra of the esters. Students were asked to assign the peaks in their spectra to the carbons in the ester synthesized. This NMR experience introduced the concepts of chemical shift, diamagnetic shielding, and chemical equivalence to the students. The application of NMR in the medical field in the form of MRI imaging was discussed during the demonstrations.
