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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: September 17, 2017
Relative configuration of natural products using NMR chemical shifts
Bing Wang1, Aaron T Dossey, Spencer S Walse
1Department of Chemistry, Quantum Theory Project, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
Abstract:
We have measured and quantum chemically computed NMR chemical shifts for three monoterpene diastereomers produced by the walkingstick, Anisomorpha buprestoides. By taking into account the Boltzmann distribution of conformers, the combined RMSDs between experimental and calculated (1)H and (13)C NMR shifts were able to determine the correct isomer, especially when only aliphatic nuclei were used. The calculated relative energies and interproton distances were also consistent with chemical isomerization experiments and NOE-based interproton distance calculations. Complementary to the NOE-based method, a comparison between experimental and calculated NMR chemical shifts can provide an efficient method to assign the relative configuration of natural products.
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