Extending the scope of NMR spectroscopy with microcoil probes.

Capillary NMR (CapNMR) spectroscopy has emerged as a major breakthrough for increasing the mass-sensitivity of NMR spectroscopic analysis and enabling the combination of NMR spectroscopy with other analytical techniques. Not only is the acquisition of high-sensitivity spectra getting easier but the quality of CapNMR spectra obtained in many small-molecule applications exceeds what can be accomplished with conventional designs. This Minireview discusses current CapNMR technology and its applications for the characterization of mass-limited, small-molecule and protein samples, the rapid screening of small-molecule or protein libraries, as well as hyphenated techniques that combine CapNMR with other analytical methods.