High resolution NMR spectroscopy and some examples of its use

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has gained wide acceptance in the study of fatty acids and other lipids. Some of the techniques are described and examples of identification and structure determination of fatty compounds are given. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is of particular value in the examination of acids with various types of unsaturation, such as mono‐ and polyenoic, acetylenic, allenic and conjugated. Acids with a cyclopropene or cyclopropane ring have been detected and studied by NMR. Positional isomers of certain substituted acids can be identified by the NMR spectrum alone. Other lipids such as glyceryl ethers, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelin and plasmalogens have been investigated with the aid of NMR. Reference is made to studies of other compounds, including steroids, rotenones, gossypol, glycosides, sugars, amines, amino acids and polymers.