WSU NMR Project
Our original project description proposed the creation of a new NMR course that would "offer students individual training in the operation and maintenance of the spectrometer and address shimming techniques, probe tuning, parameterization, and variable temperature operation. Students completing the course will be prepared to use the spectrometer in upper level courses and research projects."
Dr. Sara Hein taught this new course, "NMR Applications" in fall semester 2003. Six of our upper-level chemistry students took the course. Dr. Hein worked to prepare for the course and develop course materials during summer 2003. The intent of the course was to offer the students the opportunity to become proficient in NMR techniques so that they could apply them in their research and teaching assignments. During the course, students received hands-on experience in a number of techniques. These techniques included manual shimming, nuclei tuning, and conducting numerous 1-D and 2-D experiments including VT, DEPT, homonuclear decoupling, COSY, NOESY, ROESY, heteronuclear decoupling, HSQC, and HMBC.; b-Ionone was used as an example compound. A class project at the end of semester utilized techniques learned for the identification of an unknown compound.
This course provided highly effective training in the operation of the NMR for our upper level students. The students seemed to enjoy the opportunity to learn how to do something tangible, like acquiring high-quality NMR spectra. The students who participated in the course have required very little additional guidance in utilizing the NMR spectrometer. Several of the students have taken on teaching or research assignments.
