No-Deuterium Proton (No-D) NMR as a Convenient Method for Analysis of Organic Solvents

NMR spectra of 25 neat solvents have been recorded using No-D (no-deuterium proton) NMR, and water signals are visible in all spectra. Larger amounts of water can be measured by integration. Water can easily be detected at 0.01% (100 ppm), and amounts can be estimated by comparison with solvent ¹³C satellite peaks. Molecular sieves efficiently remove water from most solvents such that it cannot be detected by this NMR method. Additives in halogenated solvents and peroxides in ether and THF are also easily detected by No-D NMR.