A CONVENIENT AND ACCURATE METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF THE VALUES OF SPIN-SPIN COUPLING-CONSTANTS

A method is introduced which makes it possible to measure, reliably and accurately, values of scalar coupling constants from spin multiplets, even in situations where no splittings are resolved. The method makes no assumptions about the lineshapes of the individual component lines of the multiplet, it does not involve a multiparameter fit, nor does it rely on subjective criteria; it can be applied to multiplets from a range of unmodified experiments. The expected accuracy of the values of coupling con stants determined by the method depends primarily on the signal-to-noise ratio in the spectrum, the linewidth, and certain other deviations of the spectra to be analyzed from an assumed ideal. The effect of each of these factors is considered quantitatively. Finally, the method is illustrated by using it to analyze the multiplets from different kinds of spectra. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.