A simple and inexpensive preparation of perdeuterated sorbitol for use as a biomacromolecule stabilization agent in NMR studies.

Sorbitol is an excellent protein-stabilization agent, but it is typically used at high concentrations where the 1H signals can interfere with NMR data collection and analysis. Deuteration of sorbitol can ameliorate this problem; however, perdeuterated sorbitol is not commercially available. We describe a simple and inexpensive method for preparation of perdeuterated sorbitol from perdeuterated glucose. The method is described explicitly and examples are given where the use of perdeuterated sorbitol has allowed the extraction of information, from NMR spectra, that is otherwise unobtainable.