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Which isotopes are commonly used in NMR studies?

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Figure 1: Precession of a magnetic dipole moment μ in the presence of a constant field H and a rotating field H′ (see text)
magnetic resonance Figure 1: Precession of a magnetic dipole moment μ in the presence of a constant field H and a rotating field H′ (see text)

In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, researchers utilize specific atomic nuclei that possess an unpaired proton or neutron, which allows them to act as tiny magnets.1

Commonly used isotopes in NMR spectroscopy include:

  • 1H: The most frequently studied nucleus, often referred to as proton NMR.23
  • 13C: Widely used to provide information about the carbon skeleton of organic molecules, despite its low natural abundance.23
  • 15N: Frequently employed in studies of biological molecules.2
  • 17O: Utilized for investigating oxygen-containing compounds.2
  • 31P: Commonly used in biochemical and structural studies.2

These isotopes are chosen because their magnetic moments allow them to interact with external magnetic fields and radio-frequency waves, providing critical data regarding molecular structure and chemical environments. While 12C is the most abundant carbon isotope, it is not detectable by NMR because it lacks a magnetic moment, making the 13C isotope essential for carbon-based structural analysis.213