Two-dimensional NMR correlation experiments in the gas phase

The application of common two-dimensional NMR correlation experiments to gaseous analytes for structural elucidation is reported. Standard sequences such as COSY, HSQC, and HMBC are readily applied to volatile hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. In experiments using (19)F or (13)C as the observed nucleus, it is possible to take advantage of efficient spin-rotation relaxation to perform common experiments swiftly (a (19)F COSY acquired in 6s is shown) or to render insensitive experiments possible on a practical timescale (e.g. a gas phase INADEQUATE at natural isotopic abundance in 14h). NOE-based experiments were not successful on the gaseous systems studied.