Capillary-scale polarimetry for flowing streams

Microscale methodology for structure elucidation of natural products

Advances in microscale spectroscopic techniques, particularly microcryoprobe NMR, allow discovery and structure elucidation of new molecules down to only a few nanomole. Newer methods for utilizing circular dichroism (CD) have pushed the limits of detection to picomole levels. NMR and CD methods are complementary to the task of elucidation of complete stereostructures of complex natural products. Together, integrated microprobe NMR spectroscopy, microscale degradation and synthesis, are synergistic tools for the discovery of bioactive natural products and have opened new realms for discovery among extreme sources including compounds from uncultured microbes, rare invertebrates and environmental samples.

A Fourier analysis approach for capillary polarimetry

A new method of fringe interrogation based on Fourier analysis was implemented and tested for a capillary polarimetry detector. It has significant advantages over the previously employed depth of modulation (DOM) approach, including speed and alignment insensitivity. The new and old methods were compared using a set of interference fringes typically used to facilitate nanoliter volume polarimetric determinations. Polarimetric response was calculated with both methods over the range from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. The results were found to be in good agreement with Malus Law and indicate that an fast Fourier transform (fft) could be used for real-time capillary scale polarimetry in a probe volume of 40 nL.