Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in the Study of Mono- and Oligosaccharides

Abstract

This chapter deals with the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the study of mono– and oligosaccharides. The importance of NMR spectroscopy in the study of carbohydrates has increased tremendously. This has occurred primarily because the introduction of pulsed Fourier transform (FT) NMR spectrometers has made the measurement of I3 C NMR spectral parameters easy, which is particularly important for the study of carbohydrates in aqueous solutions. In addition, pulsed NMR instruments have increased the sensitivity of 'H NMR spectra by several orders of magnitude and facilitated the measurement of relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) factors. The chapter discusses the way to assign NMR parameters and the way to use these values in the study of carbohydrates. Moreover, the chapter illustrates that the assignment of the NMR signals is a prerequisite for the application of NMR spectroscopy in structural investigations of carbohydrates. Because assignment techniques have been described in many reviews and monographs, special emphasis is given to the problems associated with the assignment of signals in the NMR spectra of carbohydrates and their derivatives.