Enantiomeric forms of 1-phenylethylamine cannot be distinguished by 1H or 13C-NMR because the groups attached to the stereocenter are in an enantiopic environment. However, the chemical shifts of the protons in the groups attached to the stereocenter can be differentially altered to appear as distinct peaks in the NMR spectrum. This is accomplished by the use of a commercially available chiral lanthanide shift reagent, Yb(tfC)3. The NMR spectrum after the addition of a chiral shift reagent allows one to assess the optical purity of the sample.
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Citation
Viswanathan, Tito; Toland, Alan. J. Chem. Educ.1995 72 945.
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