NMR Usage
Access to instruments
Instruments are accessible to anyone who has been trained on their use by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratory staff and who has a current account. No unauthorized training allowed.
We need to have a budget number (EFS string) on file to create your NMR account. If you do not have a budget number, applying for a Chemistry Department Sales Card Application & Temporary Stockroom Card will create one.
Each authorized user is given a six-letter login code and computer account for scheduling time on the instruments and for using the instruments. Please use a secure password. Do not let anyone else use your account: violators will lose access privileges for a one-week period.
After hours access via U-card
To receive U-Card access to the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) laboratory, please complete this U-card form. Only send the information once. If your U-card does not work, check with Thomas Smith in the NMR laboratory.
If you are a newly-trained user of the Mass Spectrometry (MS) Laboratory or the X-Ray Crystallographic (XCL) Laboratory and you already have NMR laboratory access, for MS or XCL U-Card access, please email Thomas Smith, smit3684@umn.edu, and carbon copy (CC) the appropriate laboratory director (Dr. Young or Dr. Dalluge). Please do not resubmit the U-Card form.
General policies
No food or beverages near the spectrometers or workstations.
Do not leave your NMR tubes in the laboratory.
If a sample breaks in the magnet, contact the NMR lab staff immediately so the probe can be cleaned. This will minimize probe damage from corrosive solvents. Repairs for any damage to the probes resulting from user error are charged to the user group.
All users must abide by the scheduling restrictions posted in the lab.
Non-standard experiments (VT work, exotic nuclei) must be scheduled one week in advance with the NMR lab staff.
Read the manuals.
Sample preparation
Do not use chipped or cracked NMR tubes.
Use 7" or 8" tubes. Use 507PP (400 MHz) or 528PP (500 MHz) NMR tubes on all the instruments to prevent damage to the probes. The NMR lab does not provide solvents or other supplies for your use.
Standard shims for the Bruker instruments, 40 mm (0.55 mL). Shorter samples require additional time to shim. Longer samples waste solvent and dilute the concentration.
Variable temperature work
Separate training is required for variable temperature work.
For sample preparation, use no more than 0.45 mL of solvent.
Be aware of the temperature limitations on the probe you are using. If unsure, ask!!
Always use new 528 NMR tubes and the special VT spinner for VT work. Old tubes may be scratched and more likely to break.
For variable temperature work, you must schedule enough instrument time to bring the temperature back to room temperature when you are finished. On the AV-500, this is 300K; on the AM-400, this is 298K.
Use restrictions
AX-400: 1-hour limit during the daytime, 3-hours maximum during the nighttime
HD-500: 1-hour limit during the daytime, 4-hours maximum during the nighttime
AM-400, AV-500: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 9 slots per user can be reserved up to 24-hours in advance; Monday-Friday, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., and weekends, unlimited slots
All spectrometers for nights and weekends: reserve 2 weeks in advance, holidays, weekend restrictions in effect.
Service work
Samples may be submitted to the NMR staff to run for you.