High resolution-HMBC (HR-HMBC), a new method for measuring heteronuclear long-range coupling constants.

A useful pulse sequence for measuring long-range C--H coupling constants (J(C-H)) named high resolution-HMBC (HR-HMBC) has been developed. In this pulse sequence, the J-scaling pulse [(nt(1))/2-180 degrees (H/C) - (nt(1))/2] is incorporated after the spin evolution period, and then followed by an (1)H 180 degrees pulse to reverse the magnetization of J(C-H) couplings. As a result, splittings of the cross peaks due to the long-range J(C-H) are realigned with separations of nJ(C-H) along the F(1) dimension, and thus even the small long-range J(C--H) values can easily be determined. The efficiency of measuring the long-range J(C--H) using the proposed pulse sequences has been demonstrated in application to the complicated natural product, portmicin. Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.