Analysis in chemistry has always been hindered by the presence of impurities in samples or mixtures that are difficult to separate. Nuclear magnetic resonance has proven to be one of the most powerful analysis techniques to enable the study of mixtures by pseudoseparation using molecular parameters such as the diffusion coefficient through the application of the DOSY technique. In order to extend the application of this technique, an improvement has been proposed know as matrix-assisted DOSY (MAD-DOSY) or chromatographic NMR. This technique is based on the addition of a sample modifier that will interact differently with the molecules, varying and separating their diffusion coefficients, or even changing slightly the chemical shifts.

To extend the application of chromatographic NMR, size exclusion stationary phases have been combined with DOSY experiments. These studies have been applied to analyze mixtures modifying the diffusion coefficient in terms of size exclusion behavior and to increase the understanding of the interactions between the analytes and the stationary phase. These studies have been published in Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry.

One of the main issues when using DOSY is spectral overlapping, which is the main cause of poor resolution. In addition to this problem, a consequence of using stationary phases is the appearance of increased broadening of the signals due to differences in magnetic susceptibility. Thus, to achieve the aim, the study of diffusion properties have been performed under HR-MAS conditions which can help to remove susceptibility effect, but has complicating effects on the DOSY experiment. A method to obtain reliable diffusion measurements under HR-MAS have been developed using a D2O sample. Different conditions have been investigated including different pulse sequences, variation of parameters of the pulse sequence (diffusion delay or gradient strength), spinning rate and synchronization of the pulse sequence with the sample spinning. Also improvements in sample preparation as the addition of spacers in different locations of the sample rotor, to both reduce radial field variations and the sample volume, in order to obtain the most accurate diffusion values. This method have been published in Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry. The method have been applied to a wide range of molecules to extend the understanding of diffusion under HR-MAS conditions.

In order to extend the range of application of NMR chromatography, a complementary study of the analysis of a mixture of different enantiomers including ethylenediamine cobalt complexes, aminoacids and some other organic small molecules adding to the sample a chiral stationary phase as a sample modifier is included in the final chapter of this thesis.

The addition of stationary phases or sample modifiers can be used to modify the separation achievable in the diffusion domain of diffusion NMR experiments or provide information on the nature of the analyte–sample modifier interaction. Unfortunately, the addition of insoluble chromatographic stationary phases can lead to line broadening and degradation in spectral resolution, largely because of differences in magnetic susceptibility between the sample and the stationary phase. High-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) techniques can be used to remove this broadening. Here, we attempt the application of HR-MAS to size-exclusion chromatographic NMR with limited success. Observed diffusion coefficients for polymer molecular weight reference standards are shown to be larger than those obtained on static samples. Further investigation reveals that under HR-MAS it is possible to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of diffusion coefficients, using either full rotor synchronisation or sophisticated pulse sequences. The requirement for restricting the sample to the centre of the MAS rotor to ensure homogeneous magnetic and RF fields is also tested.

The use of chromatographic stationary phases or solvent modifiers to modulate diffusion properties in NMR experiments is now well established. Their use can be to improve resolution in the diffusion domain or to provide an insight into analyte–modifier interactions and, hence, the chromatography process. Here, we extend previous work using size-exclusion chromatographic sta- tionary phases to the investigation of polymer mixtures. We demonstrate that similar diffusion modulation behaviour is observed with a size-exclusion chromatographic stationary phase that can be understood in terms of size-exclusion behaviour.