University of Liverpool reports on Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy Allows High Throughput Characterization of Microporous Organic Polymers

The University of Liverpool with its globally renowned Centre for Materials Discovery reports on efficient, high throughput characterization of libraries of microporous organic polymers (MOPs) prepared by combinatorial chemistry methods via dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy. Chemspeed’s SWING robotic platform enables herein the accelerated and standardized library synthesis of microporous organic polymers and subsequent sample preparation for dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy. Dr Tom McDonald, research associate, and Dr Frédéric Blanc, lecturer in chemistry, state “Chemspeed’s SWING robotic platform was used to rapidly synthesize a large variety of microporous organic polymers. In the past using conventional solid state NMR spectroscopy, we were not able to fully analyze large libraries of polymers as each carbon-13 spectrum had to be recorded for more than one day to receive a good signal to noise ratio and therefore we had to choose representative samples. Now with the gain of sensitivity associated with dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR spectroscopy, carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR spectra could be recorded very quickly in about 30 minutes and spectra for the whole library of polymers obtained in a single day. Therefore, the use of DNP NMR coupled with the automated synthesis had allowed us to quickly synthesize and analyze whole libraries of porous polymers, greatly improving our understanding of these materials.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., Publication Date (Web): September 12, 2013 Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy Allows High Throughput Characterization of Microporous Organic Polymers Frédéric Blanc, Samantha Yu-ling Chong, Tom O McDonald, Dave J. Adams, Shane Pawsey, Marc Anthony Caporini, Andrew I. Cooper Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid state NMR was used to obtain natural abundance 13C and 15N CP MAS NMR spectra of microporous organic polymers with excellent signal to noise ratio, allowing for unprecedented details in the molecular structure to be determined for these complex polymer networks. Sensitivity enhancements larger than 10 were obtained with bis-nitroxide radical at 14.1 T and at low temperature (~105 K). This DNP MAS NMR approach allows efficient, high throughput characterization of libraries of porous polymers prepared by combinatorial chemistry methods. See the full article here About University of Liverpool Founded in 1881, the University of Liverpool has an impressive history of pioneering education and research, with a particular emphasis on 'education for the professions'. The University produces industry-ready graduates. Today they are a principal centre of excellence in many disciplines, including engineering, medicine, dentistry, business and law. As one of the UK’s top 20 research-led universities, they are furthering knowledge with strategic partners worldwide and they intend to double our £123m pa research budget by 2015. Education creates opportunity. They are proud to be one of the UK’s most inclusive universities, welcoming students from a wide variety of backgrounds and from over 100 countries of the world.