Application of NMR Spectroscopy in Isotope Effects Studies

Isotope effects on chemical shifts are versatile tools in structure elucidation, particularly useful for the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bounded systems in the liquid and solid state. Isotope effects on coupling constants are more important theoretically and are applied in examination of calculation methods. This review is dedicated to application of kinetic isotope effects, measured by means of NMR spectroscopy at natural abundance and combine with theoretical calculations, in reaction mechanisms studies. Reaction mechanisms studied by means of NMR are described on the basis of quantitative analysis of experimental isotope effects. Theoretical calculations for alternative mechanisms are not discussed in detail but final conclusions are reported only.