Dynamic NMR Spectroscopy in the Presence of Kinetic Hydrogen/Deuterium Isotope Effects

Abstract

The determination and interpretation of kinetic hydrogen/deuterium isotope effects of chemical and biochemical reactions constitutes a challenging problem to physicists and chemists. So far, kenetic isotope effects have mainly been measured using conventional kenetic methods. In view of the great potential of dynamic multinuclear NMR spectroscopy—which includes the techniques of lineshape analysis, polarization transfer and relaxation time measurements—the question arises whether this method can also be a useful kinetic tool in the chemistry of hydrogen isotopes. The scope of this review is to show that dynamic NMR spectroscopy can indeed contribute to the development of the field of isotopic reaction kinetics. Certain kinetic isotope effects can even only be observed using this method.