Unlocking Molecular Secrets: The Power of Advanced NMR in Structural Elucidation & Complex Impurity Mapping
In pharmaceutical development, precision goes beyond synthesis. It extends into understanding the molecular details of every compound. Regulatory agencies today demand not just impurity control but full characterization of unknown substances. This is where Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy becomes essential.
At Pharmaffiliates, we leverage advanced 1D and 2D NMR technologies to solve complex structural challenges in drug development. From impurity profiling to metabolite confirmation, our analytical services support regulatory submissions, custom synthesis validation, and quality control, ensuring your molecule is understood at the atomic level.
Why Structural Elucidation Matters in Pharma
Every molecule in a formulation, especially impurities, degradants, and metabolites, must be identified with confidence. This is vital for:
- ANDA, DMF, and CTD filings
- Pharmacological and toxicological risk assessment
- Verification of synthesis pathways
- Analytical method validation
- Bioequivalence and bioanalytical studies
NMR spectroscopy helps reveal how atoms are connected, providing a deeper level of certainty than methods like MS or FTIR alone. This is particularly crucial for unknown or unexpected compounds.
Pharmaffiliates’ NMR Capabilities
Pharmaffiliates’ dedicated structural elucidation team utilizes a broad suite of high-resolution NMR technologies, including:
- 1H and 13C NMR (routine analysis)
- 2D NMR techniques, including:
These techniques offer detailed information on proton-proton and proton-carbon couplings, allowing us to confirm full molecular architecture, including chiral centers and stereo configurations.
Core NMR Services We Offer
- Structural elucidation of unknown impurities and degradants
- Confirmation of custom-synthesized reference standards
- Identification of drug metabolites in vitro or in vivo
- Analysis of forced degradation products
- Structural validation of intermediates and bioactive compounds
All results are provided with annotated spectra, detailed interpretation reports, and regulatory-aligned Certificates of Analysis (CoAs).
Use Case: Impurity Identification for ANDA Filing
A U.S.-based client preparing an ANDA encountered an unknown impurity during accelerated stability testing. While LC-MS suggested a degradation product, confirmation was necessary for submission.
Pharmaffiliates performed:
- Impurity isolation from the drug matrix
- 1H, 13C, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC analysis
- Full structural assignment with NMR interpretation
- Submission-ready documentation and CoA
Result: The impurity was confirmed as a hydrolysis byproduct. The client successfully submitted the data to the USFDA, receiving no structure-related queries.
Why Choose Pharmaffiliates for NMR Elucidation?
- ISO 17025-accredited, GxP-aligned laboratory environments
- Expertise in impurity profiling and regulatory documentation
- Support for global filings, including USFDA, EMA, CDSCO
- Trusted by pharma innovators in over 90+ countries
Whether it’s part of a custom synthesis project, regulatory filing, or method validation, our NMR team ensures accuracy, traceability, and scientific defensibility.
Still have questions? Explore our FAQs
Q1. What is NMR and why is it important in pharma? Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique used to identify and confirm the complete structure of organic compounds. It’s vital for confirming impurity identity, especially when other techniques fall short.
Q2. Can you identify unknown impurities in drug products? Yes. We isolate, analyze, and assign full structures to unknown impurities using advanced 1D/2D NMR and complementary methods.
Q3. Are your NMR reports submission-ready? Absolutely. We provide complete interpretation reports, spectra, and CoAs aligned with global regulatory expectations.
Q4. Do you also synthesize the impurities you analyze? Yes, Pharmaffiliates provides comprehensive support for impurity standards by offering both synthesis and detailed analytical characterization.
