carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) spectroscopy is an analytical technique used to determine the structure of organic molecules. While most naturally occurring carbon is carbon-12, which is not detectable by NMR, the ¹³C isotope (about 1% of carbon) can be detected.123

¹³C NMR provides valuable information about the carbon skeleton of organic compounds. Although ¹³C NMR signals are weaker than proton NMR signals due to the low abundance and weak absorption of ¹³C atoms, modern instrumentation has made it a readily accessible technique. The technique involves placing organic compounds in a strong magnetic field and irradiating them with radio-frequency waves. The resulting spectrum shows peaks representing different carbon environments within the molecule. This method, often used in conjunction with proton NMR, helps chemists assign correct structures to organic compounds.124