Stretched poly(vinyl acetate) gels as NMR alignment media for the measurement of residual dipolar couplings in polar organic solvents

Partial alignment of molecules in polar organic solvents for the measurement of residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) in high-resolution NMR spectroscopy can be achieved by stretched poly(vinyl acetate) gels. The method opens the door of RDC-derived structural information (e.g. from D_CH couplings, see picture) to new classes of molecules by closing the existing gap between apolar and aqueous solutions. (Figure Presented).