NMR Tube
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

An NMR tube is a thin glass walled tube used to contain samples in
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), is a Spectroscopy, spectroscopic technique based on re-orientation of Atomic nucleus, atomic nuclei with non-zero nuclear sp ...
. Typically NMR tubes come in 5 mm diameters but 10 mm and 3 mm samples are known. It is important that the tubes are uniformly thick and well-balanced to ensure that NMR tube spins at a regular rate (i.e., they do not wobble), usually about 20 Hz in the NMR spectrometer.


Construction

NMR tubes are typically made of borosilicate glass. They are available in seven and eight inch lengths; a 5 mm tube outer diameter is most common, but 3 mm and 10 mm outer diameters are available as well. Where
boron Boron is a chemical element; it has symbol B and atomic number 5. In its crystalline form it is a brittle, dark, lustrous metalloid; in its amorphous form it is a brown powder. As the lightest element of the boron group it has three ...
NMR is desired, quartz NMR tubes containing low concentrations of boron (as opposed to borosilicate glass) are available. Specialized closures such as J. Young valves and screwcap closures are available aside from more common polyethylene caps. Two common specifications for NMR tubes are concentricity and camber. Concentricity refers to the variation in the radial centers, measured at the inner and outer walls. Camber refers to the "straightness" of the tube. Poor values for either may cause poorer quality spectra by reducing the homogeneity of the sample. In particular, an NMR tube which has poor camber may wobble when rotated, giving rise to spinning side bands. With modern manufacturing techniques even cheap tubes give good spectra for routine applications.


Sample preparation

Usually, only a small sample is dissolved in an appropriate solvent. For 1H NMR experiments, this will usually be a deuterated solvent such as CDCl3. Sufficient solvent should be used in order to fill the tube by 4–5 cm (depending on the spectrometer).
Protein NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of proteins (usually abbreviated protein NMR) is a field of structural biology in which NMR spectroscopy is used to obtain information about the structure and dynamics of proteins, and also nucleic acids, and ...
is usually performed in a 90% H2O (or buffer)/10% D2O mixture. The sample may be sonicated or agitated to aid dissolution, and solids are removed via filtering through a plug of celite layered on a cotton wool plug in a Pasteur pipette, directly into the NMR tube. The NMR tube is then usually sealed with a polyethylene cap, but can be flame sealed or sealed with a Teflon ' Schlenk' tap or even a very small rubber
septum In biology, a septum (Latin language, Latin for ''something that encloses''; septa) is a wall, dividing a Body cavity, cavity or structure into smaller ones. A cavity or structure divided in this way may be referred to as septate. Examples Hum ...
. Parafilm may be wrapped around the cap to reduce solvent evaporation.


Shigemi tubes

A Shigemi tube is a microscale NMR tube used with an ordinary-size NMR tube. Shigemi tubes may be appropriate for
protein NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of proteins (usually abbreviated protein NMR) is a field of structural biology in which NMR spectroscopy is used to obtain information about the structure and dynamics of proteins, and also nucleic acids, and ...
experiments, where only a smaller sample is available. A corresponding smaller solvent volume is desired to maintain a higher sample concentration. The reduced sample depth is compensated for by solid glass on the NMR tube beneath the level of sample, which varies for the make of spectrometer. Once air bubbles have been expelled, the plunger is secured to the tube proper by parafilm. Ideally, the tubes are matched with the deuterated solvent used to have better spectrum resolution. Image:Shigemi tubes disassembled.JPG, Plunger/insert centre, left 8 mm "bottom length" outer tube suitable for Bruker and Varian NMR spectrometers, right 15 mm outer tube suitable for Varian only Image:Shigemi tube assembled.JPG, Fully assembled 8 mm Shigemi tube, insert secured to outer tube with parafilm Image:Shigemi sample close-up.JPG, Close-up of the sample lying in between insert and "bottom length"


Cleaning

NMR tubes are hard to clean because of their small bore. They are cleaned best before the sample has dried. Cleaning is performed usually by rinsing with the same (non-deuterated) solvent used to dissolve the initial sample. Dichloromethane or
acetone Acetone (2-propanone or dimethyl ketone) is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula . It is the simplest and smallest ketone (). It is a colorless, highly Volatile organic compound, volatile, and flammable liquid with a charact ...
are good choices because dichloromethane is similar in polarity to chloroform, a common NMR solvent, while acetone dissolves many organic compounds. Sonication and scrubbing with a pipe cleaner may be helpful in removing traces of solid contaminants. If necessary, the tube may be filled with an oxidizing solution of
aqua regia Aqua regia (; from Latin, "regal water" or "royal water") is a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, optimally in a molar concentration, molar ratio of 1:3. Aqua regia is a fuming liquid. Freshly prepared aqua regia is colorless, but i ...
or
piranha solution Piranha solution (), also known as piranha etch, is a mixture of sulfuric acid () and hydrogen peroxide (). The resulting mixture is used to clean organic residues off substrates, for example silicon wafers. Because the mixture is a strong o ...
(H2O2/H2SO4). Care should be taken with these solutions, as they can unexpectedly and violently erupt from the NMR tube due to pressure build-up (aqua regia) or explosion (piranha).
Chromic acid Chromic acid is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is also a jargon for a solution formed by the addition of sulfuric acid to aqueous solutions of dichromate. It consists at least in part of chromium trioxide. The term "chromic ...
solutions are never used, due to traces of paramagnetic chromium left behind on the tubes causing interference with NMR experiments. When the NMR tube is determined to be clean, it is triple-rinsed with distilled water and left to air-dry or dry in an oven at low temperature. It is best not to exceed 60 °C. At higher temperatures, slight tube distortion can occur which will affect tube camber. If NMR tubes are washed, a final rinse is recommended with a solvent that easily evaporates at 60 °C and that has no residue such as methanol. Avoid acetone, which leaves a residue.


NMR tube cleaner

A better alternative to the use of potentially hazardous oxidizers is an NMR tube cleaner (right). It is an apparatus which uses a vacuum to flush solvent and/or a detergent solution through the entire length of the NMR tube. In this apparatus, the NMR tube 1 (with the cap 3 fixed to the base of the NMR tube), is placed upside down on the apparatus. The NMR tube fits over an inner tube 5 linked to the solvent reservoir 6. The NMR cap rests on the outer tube of the apparatus 4. A vacuum is applied (usually via a water aspirator via the vacuum inlet). The NMR tube cap forms a vacuum seal. Solvent 7 is drawn from the solvent reservoir 6 and is forced to the base of the NMR tube and flushes the NMR tube out 9 with solvent cleaning it. Note to complete the vacuum a flask is attached to the NMR tube cleaning apparatus. This sort of apparatus is commercially available, though it is costly and easy to destroy by shattering or breaking off the cleaning tube. Equivalent designs may be assembled from ordinary labware as well.


Gallery

Image:Polythiophenes fluorescence NMR tube.jpg, A sample of polythiophenes in an NMR tube. Due to the high degree of conjugation, the sample fluoresces under ultraviolet light. Image:NMRtubeTeflontap.png , Teflon tap used to seal NMR tubes for air-sensitive samples – has a central bore starting at the top of the tap, which splits into a T-junction at the bottom. One of the openings of the inverted "T" can be seen in this picture. Image:J young adapter.JPG, A J. Young NMR tube attached to an adapter with a female 24/40 joint already greased. Note the hole resulting from the T-bore in the side of the PTFE plug. Image:J young top.JPG, A J. Young NMR tube from above looking down the hole that leads to the T-bore.


References

{{Laboratory equipment Laboratory glassware Nuclear magnetic resonance