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Structural Determination

Code: 102532
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Chemistry OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Jordi Hernando Campos
Email :
jordi.hernando@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Ona Illa Soler
Franco Della Felice

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

  • All teaching, including teaching materials handed out to the students, will be in English. Therefore, good communication skills in English are necessary.
  • It is recommended that only those students who passed the 2nd-year subject “Spectroscopy” (“Espectroscòpia”) enroll in “Structural Determination”.
  • It is assumed that the student is familiar with the basic concepts of organic and inorganic chemistry. Therefore, the students are expected to have taken the 2nd-year subjects “Estructura i Reactivitat dels Compostos Orgànics” and “Química dels Elements”.

Objectives

This course aims at providing the students with basic tools for the analysis of the spectroscopic data of organic and inorganic molecular compounds, thus enabling the students to elucidate their structure. Various spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques will be considered (mass spectrometry and UV-vis, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies), though most efforts will be devoted to the analysis of NMR data.

Specific goals of this subject are:

  • Introduce the mass spectrometry technique and review basic concepts of UV-vis, IR and NMR spectroscopies covered by the 2nd-year subject "Spectroscopy".
  • Introduce advanced concepts in NMR spectroscopy.
  • Use this knowledge to undertake the analysis of mass, UV-vis, IR and NMR spectra of organic and inorganic molecular compounds.
  • Elucidate the structure of those compounds based on their spectroscopic data.

Learning outcomes

  1. Manage the organisation and planning of tasks.
  2. Resolve problems and make decisions.
  3. Obtain information, including by digital means.
  4. Manage, analyse and synthesise information.
  5. Use IT to treat and present information.
  6. Communicate clearly in English.
  7. Reason in a critical manner
  8. Be ethically committed.
  9. Learn autonomously.
  10. Adapt to new situations.
  11. Propose creative ideas and solutions.
  12. Show motivation for quality.
  13. Use spectroscopic methods [IR, UV-VIS, NMR (1 H, 13 C) and ME] to solve problems of a quantitative or qualitative nature in the field of intra- and intermolecular structure and relations.
  14. Analyse chemical problems and plan suitable answers or studies for their resolution on a spectroscopic level, using molecular models and bibliographic sources.
  15. Recognise and analyse structural chemical problems in organic and inorganic compounds.
  16. Evaluate the best spectroscopic methodology to solve a structural problem.
  17. Examine spectroscopic databases and other related bibliographic data.
  18. Innovate methods for adaptation to the interpretation of a specific molecular structure.
  19. Interpret the data obtained from experimental measurements to express a chemical structure.
  20. Interrelate databases and calculation programs to determine a structure.
  21. Evaluate the capacities of the information contained in online networks.
  22. Use the most common English chemistry terms.
  23. Recognise the English terminology in bibliographic databases and online information.

Contents

1. Introduction to Mass Spectrometry (MS)


Background and the experimental method. Spectral resolution. Isotope analysis. Fragmentation processes: homolytic and heterolytic bond cleavage. Fragmentation patterns associated to specific functional groups. Examples.


 


2. Basic concepts in Electronic (UV-Vis), Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopies.


The experimental methods. UV-vis chromophores in organic molecules. IR absorptions of organic functional groups and interpretation of IR spectra. Functional group charts (IR). Basic aspects of NMR spectra: chemical shifts, spectral ranges and referencing.


 


3. 1H NMR: the chemical shift.


Shielding mechanisms. Topical relationships and molecular symmetry. Other factors influencing the chemical shift: magnetic anisotropy, solvent effects. Correlations: hydrogens linked to carbon, hydrogens linked to other nuclei. Spectral simulations. Examples.


 


4. 1H NMR: spin-spin coupling.


Basic concepts on spin-spin interaction, coupling constants and multiplicity patterns. The Karplus equation. Spin systems: the Δν/J ratio, first and second order spectra. Heteronuclear couplings. Examples.


 


5. 1H NMR: analysis of the spectra.


Time-dependent phenomena. Methods of analysis. Simplification of spectra: changing the magnetic field, spin decoupling, shift reagents. Cross-relaxation and the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE). Introduction to 2D NMR spectroscopy. Examples.


 


6. 13C NMR.


Overview. Recording methods (broad band, off-resonance, DEPT). Chemical shifts: additivity and spectral simulations. Spin-spin couplings. Analysis of the spectra. Examples


 


7. NMR of other nuclei.


1H NMR in inorganic compounds, including metal complexes. 31P NMR, 19F NMR, 14N and 15N NMR. Metal complexes: multinuclear NMR.


 


8. Structural determination.


Combined application of the spectroscopic techniques. Examples.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problem Solving 46 1.84 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23
Theory Lectures 37 1.48 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Problem-solving Sessions 12 0.48 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22
Personal study 43 1.72 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 21, 22, 23

Two different types of activities will be developed in the classroom:

Theory Lectures

The lecturer will explain the contents of the course to the classroom using blackboard or multimedia material, which will be made available to the students in the \"Moodle\". After a set of lecture sessions taking place during the initial weeks to introduce basic concepts, the rest of the theory lectures will be based on a \"problem-based learning\" approach. Students will be required to solve spectroscopic exercises during these sessions, for which a mark will be given.

Problem-solving Sessions

A set of exercises will be made available to all students in the \"Moodle\" at the beginning of the course. Several of these will be discussed by a teaching assistant during the problem-solving sessions. Alternatively, students will be required to solve spectroscopic exercises during these sessions, for which a mark will be given.

Important Notes

Teaching, including all teaching and evaluation materials (e.g. slides, problems, exams), will be given in English. Students are encouraged to use English as well when answering evaluation materials or communicating to the professors. Despite this, the use of Catalan and Spanish will also be accepted in both cases.

 

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problem Solving 15% 4 0.16 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Exams 85% 8 0.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23

Students could choose between two different evaluation modes: continuous evaluation and one-step evaluation.


Continuous evaluation

The overall mark will be broken down as follows:

Problems solving (15%) + Midterm Exam 1 (35%) + Midterm Exam 2 (50%) = 100%

The evaluation of students will comprise the following items:

Problem solving: A number of short exercises will be periodically handed out to the students. A mark will be given to each exercise. The weighted average mark of the exercises will account for 15% of the overall mark of the course.

Written exams: Two exams will be held during the course and they will account for 35% and 50% of the overall grade of the course, respectively.

To pass the subject, students must fulfil the following requisites:

A) The mark of the Midterm Exam 2 must be at least 4/10.

B) The weighted average mark of the two exams must be at least 5/10.

C) The overall mark (problems + Midterm Exam 1 + Midterm Exam 2) should be at least 5/10.

In the case that these conditions are not met, a retake exam is also scheduled. Those with a passing grade but who wish to improve their mark may also take the final exam. Only those students that have taken both exams during the course are eligible to take the retake exam.

For those students taking the retake exam, the overall mark will be computed as follows:

Problems solving (15%) + Retake Exam (85%) = 100%

The formula will apply to all students who have taken the retake exam, regardless of whether the new mark is higher or lower than the original.

To pass the subject, students must fulfil both of the following requisites:

A) The grade of the retake exam must be at least 5/10.

B) The overall grade (problems + retake exam) should be at least 5/10

If condition A is not met, the maximum final grade that the student will have is 4.8 after making the weighted average with the problems solving grade.


One-step evaluation

The overall mark will be directly obtained from a single final exam to be held at the end of the semester. If the mark of this exam is lower than 5/10, students should take a retake exam. Those with a passing grade but who wish to improve their mark may also take the retake exam. In both cases, the mark from the retake exam will replace that previously obtained for the single final exam. Only those students that have taken tha pevious exam will be eligible to take the retake exam.

To pass the subject, students must fulfil the following requisite:

A) The mark of the single final exam (or of the retake exam if necessary) must be at least 5/10.


Students taking less than 2/3 of the evaluation items will be graded as "No avaluable".


Both for the continuous and one-step evaluation modalities, the procedure for reviewing the final grade will be equivalent.


Use of artificial intelligence: Permitted use – In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed as an integral part of the development of the work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution by the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a penalty in the activity grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.


Academic fraud: The commission of any irregularity in an evaluation activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that may lead to a significant alteration of the grade will result in that activity being graded with a 0. If the course syllabus stipulates that obtaining a minimum grade in this assessment activity is an essential requirement to pass the course, or if multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for the course will be 0. Notwithstanding the above, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who incurs any of these irregularities.

Bibliography

a) Text books

  • I. Fleming, D. Williams, Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry, Springer Cham, London, 2019. e-book: link
  • R. Silverstein, F.X. Webster, D.J. Kiemle, Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds, Wiley, New York, 2005.
  • P. Crews, J. Rodriguez, M. Jaspars, Organic Structure Analysis, Oxford University Press, New York, 2009.
  • J. H. Simpson, Organic Structure Determination Using 2-D NMR Spectroscopy - A Problem-Based Approach (2nd Edition). Elsevier, 2012. e-book: link
  • D. L. Pavia, G. M. Lampman, G. S. Kriz, J. R. Vyvyan. Introduction to Spectroscopy. (5th Edition). Cengage Learning, 2015.

b) Problems

  • L.D. Field, S. Sternhell, J.R. Kalman, Organic Structures from Spectra, Wiley, Chichester, 2008.
  • J. R. Pedro, G. Blay, 200 Problemas de Determinación Estructural de Compuestos Orgánicos, Vision Libros, Madrid 2010. ISBN 978-84-9983-993-6
  • A. Randazo, Guía Práctica de Interpretación de Espectros de RMN, Loghia Publishing, Nápoles 2018. ISBN 978-88-95122-44-1
  • J. H. Simpson, Organic Structure Determination Using 2-D NMR Spectroscopy - A Problem-Based Approach (2nd Edition). Elsevier, 2012. e-book: link

c) Tables

  • E. Pretsch, P. Bühlmann, M. Badertscher, Structure Determination of Organic Compounds, Springer, Berlin, 2020. e-book: link

Software

Does not apply

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 English first semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 English first semester afternoon