A Tutorial on Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensors

This experiment illustrates the value of using NMR spectroscopy to study geometric isomers, and the synthetic utility of the trans effect in inorganic reaction mechanisms. The syntheses of cis- and trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) are carried out on a small scale, using both ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N ammine ligands. Students use ¹⁹⁵Pt and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopies to study the coordination complexes prepared. The ¹⁹⁵Pt chemical shift is indicative of the metals coordination environment. Furthermore, the ¹⁹⁵Pt-¹⁵N coupling constant is sensitive to the nature and geometry of the ligands bound to the metal, and this is also explored.