Synthesis of a Biodegradable PLA: NMR Signal Deconvolution and End-Group Analysis

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful spectroscopic tool that not only allows the determination of structures after synthesis, as usually explained to students of Organic Chemistry, but also is useful in many other fields such as medicine imaging, real-time industrial processes, material sciences, or metabolomics. In this experiment, students performed a ring-opening polymerization (ROP) reaction in the laboratory and, then, collected a series of 1D NMR spectra with the aim of determining the tacticity of the polymers formed and their number-average molecular weight. The deconvolution of H-1 and C-13 NMR experimental data was central in their learning process, and the consistence of the results obtained was validated within the literature. This exercise gave students skills on polymerization reaction processes, instrumental analysis, and determination and interpreta- tion of NMR spectra in the use of deconvolution procedures along with the critical evaluation of the obtained results.

Automated summary

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful tool not only for structure determination after synthesis, but also in various fields including medicine imaging, real-time industrial processes, material sciences, and metabolomics. Students in this experiment performed a ring-opening polymerization reaction and collected 1D NMR spectra to determine the tacticity and number-average molecular weight of the polymers formed, with the deconvolution of experimental data being central to their learning process and validation of results through literature. This exercise provided students with skills in polymerization reactions, instrumental analysis, interpretation of NMR spectra, and critical evaluation of results.