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.