I now continue with aspects of Physical Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry,
i.e., those areas that are particularly related to chromatographic separation and spectroscopic methods for the analysis of organics.
In the pharmaceutical industry (pharma), where I was employed for a considerable period of my life including, what was then Fisons and later AstraZeneca Pharma, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods are vital throughout the drug discovery process, from initial discovery and characterization, through development, purity/assay, to final product release and then shelf-life stability testing. I have posted some useful links for videos of the major techniques used.
Chromatography
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
http://bit.ly/cFcg7X
Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC or GC)
http://my.rsc.org/video/55
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC or LC)
http://my.rsc.org/video/51
Spectroscopy
Infrared Spectroscopy (IR)
http://my.rsc.org/video/53
Ultraviolet - Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis)
http://my.rsc.org/video/56
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
http://my.rsc.org/video/54
Mass Spectroscopy/Spectrometry (MS)
http://my.rsc.org/video/52
Depending on the nature of active ingredient, most analyses involve a combination of spectroscopic techniques for identification, assay and impurity levels, accomplished readily by
linked techniques of either Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) or Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), although LC-MS is the norm. Using LC-MS, both qualitative (identification) and quantitative analyses (product assay and impurity levels) can be carried out.
