HMBC–RELAY: a combined technique for the differentiation of simultaneously detected 2J(C,H) and nJ(C,H) connectivities

We present a new pulse sequence that detects simultaneously (n)J(C,H) and 2J(C,H) connectivities. The corresponding coherences are created along independent pathways and therefore can be separated into two different subspectra. One spectrum is to show all (n)J(C,H) connectivities and the other is to show exclusively 2J(C,H) connectivities. In contrast to the previously published 2J/(n)J experiment, this sequence detects the 2J(C,H) connectivities via a C,H,H-RELAY pathway leading to an intensification of the 2J(C,H) signals. Strictly, the 2J(C,H) spectrum does not show 2J(C,H) but 3J(H,H) coupling interactions within 13CH(k)-12CH(l) fragments. Therefore, 2J(C,H) signals can appear even if the corresponding 2J(C,H) coupling constant is zero.