Advanced NMR Methods for Position-Specific Isotope Analysis

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is characterized by its non-destructive character and its intrinsic quantitative properties. These two features make NMR an unrivalled tool to measure position-specific isotope compositions. Isotopic ratio measurement by NMR (irm-NMR) is a constantly evolving methodology, and recent developments have considerably extended its field of application. After a general description of NMR as a quantitative tool, we will describe the principles of irm-NMR and its specificities in the case of the 2H and 13C isotopes that represent most of its applications. We will highlight the most recent developments and applications in the field, and the perspectives arising from recent methodological evolutions of NMR will be finally discussed.