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NMR Chemical Shift Table
In short: Typical ¹H and ¹³C chemical shift ranges by functional group, the residual solvent and water peaks of common NMR solvents, and typical J coupling constants, in one searchable, printable page.
Search any table, or enter a peak position to see which groups can give it. Ranges are textbook values; the solvent peaks are the measured values of Fulmer et al. (2010).
Quick answer: in ¹H NMR, alkyl H 0.7–1.8, α-to-C=O 2.0–2.7, O–CH 3.2–4.3, vinyl 4.5–6.5, aromatic 6.5–8.5, aldehyde 9.0–10.5 and COOH 10.5–13 ppm. In ¹³C NMR, sp³ C 0–60, C–O 40–80, alkene and aromatic 100–160, C=O 160–220 ppm. CDCl₃: 7.26 / 77.16 ppm, water 1.56 ppm.
¹H NMR chemical shifts by group (ppm)
| Type | Group | Structure | δ ¹H (ppm) | Notes and measured examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alkyl | Alkyl CH₃ | R–CH₃ | 0.7–1.3 | Methyl on a saturated chain, ≈0.9. n-Hexane CH₃ 0.88 (F). |
| Alkyl | Alkyl CH₂ | R–CH₂–R | 1.2–1.5 | ≈1.3. n-Hexane CH₂ 1.26 (F). |
| Alkyl | Alkyl CH (methine) | R₃C–H | 1.4–1.8 | ≈1.5. |
| Alkyl | Cyclopropane C–H | cyclo-C₃H₅ | 0.0–0.5 | Unusually shielded by the ring current of the strained ring. |
| Next to π systems | Allylic C–H | C=C–C–H | 1.6–2.6 | ≈1.7 for an allylic CH₃. |
| Next to π systems | Benzylic C–H | Ar–C–H | 2.2–2.8 | Toluene CH₃ 2.36 (F). |
| Next to π systems | α to carbonyl | O=C–C–H | 2.0–2.7 | Ketones, esters, acids, amides. Acetone 2.17, ethyl acetate CH₃CO 2.05 (F). |
| Next to π systems | α to nitrile | N≡C–C–H | 2.0–3.0 | Acetonitrile 2.10 (F). |
| Next to π systems | Alkyne C–H | C≡C–H | 1.7–3.1 | Shielded by the triple-bond anisotropy, ≈2.5. |
| Next to heteroatoms | N–CH (amine) | R₂N–C–H | 2.2–2.9 | Triethylamine CH₂ 2.53 (F). |
| Next to heteroatoms | N–CH (amide) | C(=O)N–C–H | 2.7–3.5 | DMF N-CH₃ 2.88 and 2.96 (F). |
| Next to heteroatoms | S–CH (sulfide) | RS–C–H | 2.0–2.8 | |
| Next to heteroatoms | O–CH (alcohol, ether) | RO–C–H | 3.2–3.8 | Methanol CH₃ 3.49, diethyl ether CH₂ 3.48 (F). |
| Next to heteroatoms | O–CH (ester, alkoxy side) | C(=O)O–C–H | 3.7–4.3 | Ethyl acetate OCH₂ 4.12 (F). |
| Next to heteroatoms | O–CH₃ (aryl ether) | Ar–O–CH₃ | 3.7–3.9 | Anisole OCH₃ ≈3.8. |
| Next to heteroatoms | Halogen–CH (Cl, Br) | X–C–H | 3.0–4.0 | CH₂Cl ≈3.5, CH₂Br ≈3.4. Dichloromethane 5.30 (F) has two Cl. |
| Next to heteroatoms | I–CH | I–C–H | 2.0–4.0 | CH₂I ≈3.2. |
| Next to heteroatoms | F–CH | F–C–H | 4.2–4.8 | Also split by ¹⁹F (²J(H,F) ≈ 47 Hz). |
| Next to heteroatoms | Nitro–CH | O₂N–C–H | 4.2–4.6 | Nitromethane 4.33 (F). |
| sp² and sp C–H | Vinyl (alkene) C–H | C=C–H | 4.5–6.5 | Terminal =CH₂ ≈4.6–5.0. Next to C=O or O the range widens (enol ethers, enones up to ≈7.5). |
| sp² and sp C–H | Aromatic C–H | Ar–H | 6.5–8.5 | Benzene 7.36 (F). Electron donors (OH, NH₂, OR) shift ortho/para H upfield; NO₂, C=O shift them downfield. |
| sp² and sp C–H | Heteroaromatic C–H | pyridine, furan … | 6.0–9.0 | Pyridine H-2 8.62, H-4 7.68 (F). |
| sp² and sp C–H | Aldehyde CHO | R–CHO | 9.0–10.5 | Benzaldehyde ≈10.0. Small coupling (1–3 Hz) to the α-H. |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Carboxylic acid O–H | R–COOH | 10.5–13.0 | Very broad. Disappears with D₂O shake. |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Alcohol O–H | R–OH | 0.5–5.0 | Position depends on concentration, solvent, temperature and water. Often a broad singlet. |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Phenol O–H | Ar–OH | 4.0–7.0 | Up to ≈12 when hydrogen-bonded to an ortho C=O (salicylates). |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Amine N–H | R–NH₂, R₂NH | 0.5–5.0 | Aliphatic amines ≈0.5–3, aryl amines ≈3–5. Broad. |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Amide N–H | R–C(=O)NH– | 5.0–9.0 | Broad. Secondary amides ≈6–8.5 in CDCl₃, higher in DMSO-d₆. |
| Exchangeable (O–H, N–H) | Thiol S–H | R–SH | 1.0–2.0 | Aryl thiols ≈3–4. |
¹³C NMR chemical shifts by group (ppm)
| Type | Group | Structure | δ ¹³C (ppm) | Notes and measured examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sp³ carbon | Alkyl CH₃ | R–CH₃ | 8–30 | n-Hexane CH₃ 14.14 (F). |
| sp³ carbon | Alkyl CH₂ | R–CH₂–R | 15–55 | n-Hexane CH₂ 22.70 and 31.64, cyclohexane 26.94 (F). |
| sp³ carbon | Alkyl CH | R₃C–H | 20–60 | |
| sp³ carbon | Quaternary C | R₄C | 30–40 | Without heteroatoms. |
| sp³ carbon | α to C=O | C–C=O | 20–50 | Acetone CH₃ 30.92 (F). |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–O (alcohol, ether, ester) | C–O | 40–80 | Methanol 50.41, ethanol CH₂ 58.28, diethyl ether CH₂ 65.91, THF 67.97 (F). |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–N (amine, amide) | C–N | 30–65 | Triethylamine CH₂ 46.25, nitromethane 62.50 (F). |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–Cl | C–Cl | 35–80 | Dichloromethane 53.52, chloroform 77.36 (F). |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–Br | C–Br | 25–65 | |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–I | C–I | 0–40 | Iodine shields the carbon (heavy-atom effect). CH₃I ≈ −21. |
| C–X (heteroatom on sp³ C) | C–S | C–S | 10–45 | DMSO CH₃ ≈40. |
| sp and sp² carbon | Alkyne C≡C | C≡C | 65–90 | |
| sp and sp² carbon | Nitrile C≡N | C≡N | 110–125 | Acetonitrile CN 116.43 (F). |
| sp and sp² carbon | Alkene C=C | C=C | 100–150 | Ethylene 123.13, propylene 115.74 and 133.91 (F). |
| sp and sp² carbon | Aromatic C | Ar C | 110–160 | Benzene 128.37, toluene 125.33–137.89 (F). C–O of phenols and aryl ethers up to ≈160. |
| sp and sp² carbon | Heteroaromatic C | pyridine, furan … | 100–160 | Pyridine 123.75, 135.96, 149.90 (F). |
| sp and sp² carbon | Imine / oxime C=N | C=N | 145–170 | |
| Carbonyl C=O | Ketone | R₂C=O | 195–220 | Acetone 207.07 (F). Conjugation lowers to ≈195–200. |
| Carbonyl C=O | Aldehyde | R–CHO | 185–205 | ≈200; conjugated (benzaldehyde) ≈192. |
| Carbonyl C=O | Carboxylic acid | R–COOH | 165–185 | Acetic acid 175.99 (F). |
| Carbonyl C=O | Ester and lactone | R–COOR | 160–180 | Ethyl acetate 171.36 (F). |
| Carbonyl C=O | Amide and lactam | R–CONR₂ | 160–180 | DMF 162.62 (F, a formamide). |
| Carbonyl C=O | Anhydride | (RCO)₂O | 160–175 | |
| Carbonyl C=O | Acid chloride | R–COCl | 160–180 | |
| Carbonyl C=O | Urea, carbamate, carbonate | N/O–C(=O)–N/O | 150–160 |
NMR solvent residual and water peaks (ppm)
Residual signal of the partly protonated solvent (for example CHCl₃ in CDCl₃, CD₂HSOCD₃ in DMSO-d₆), the ¹³C signal of the solvent itself, and the position of dissolved water (H₂O or HOD). Values at 298 K, referenced to TMS, from Fulmer et al. 2010. The water peak moves with temperature and concentration.
| Solvent | Residual ¹H (ppm) | ¹³C (ppm) | Water ¹H (ppm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDCl₃ (chloroform-d) | 7.26 | 77.16 | 1.56 |
| DMSO-d₆ | 2.50 | 39.52 | 3.33 |
| D₂O | 4.79 | — | 4.79 (HDO) |
| CD₃OD (methanol-d₄) | 3.31 | 49.00 | 4.87 |
| Acetone-d₆ | 2.05 | 29.84, 206.26 | 2.84 |
| C₆D₆ (benzene-d₆) | 7.16 | 128.06 | 0.40 |
| CD₃CN (acetonitrile-d₃) | 1.94 | 1.32, 118.26 | 2.13 |
| CD₂Cl₂ | 5.32 | 53.84 | 1.52 |
| THF-d₈ | 1.72, 3.58 | 67.21, 25.31 | 2.46 |
| Toluene-d₈ | 2.08, 6.97, 7.01, 7.09 | 137.48, 128.87, 127.96, 125.13, 20.43 | 0.43 |
| C₆D₅Cl | 6.96, 6.99, 7.14 | 134.19, 129.26, 128.25, 125.96 | 1.03 |
| TFE-d₃ | 5.02, 3.88 | 61.50, 126.28 | 3.66 |
Typical ¹H–¹H coupling constants (Hz)
| Type | Coupling | Protons | J (Hz) | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geminal (²J) | sp³ CH₂ (geminal) | H–C–H | 12–15 | ≈12–14 | Seen only when the two H are not equivalent (diastereotopic). |
| Geminal (²J) | Terminal alkene =CH₂ | H₂C=C | 0–3 | ≈2 | |
| Vicinal (³J) | Free rotation | H–C–C–H | 6–8 | ≈7 | Ethyl groups give a 7 Hz triplet and quartet. |
| Vicinal (³J) | Cyclohexane axial–axial | H(ax)–C–C–H(ax) | 8–14 | ≈10 | Dihedral ≈180°: large (Karplus). |
| Vicinal (³J) | Cyclohexane axial–equatorial | H(ax)–C–C–H(eq) | 0–7 | ≈3–5 | |
| Vicinal (³J) | Cyclohexane equatorial–equatorial | H(eq)–C–C–H(eq) | 0–5 | ≈3 | |
| Alkene | cis alkene | H–C=C–H (Z) | 6–12 | ≈10 | |
| Alkene | trans alkene | H–C=C–H (E) | 12–18 | ≈16 | trans is always larger than cis in the same compound. |
| Alkene | Allylic (⁴J) | H–C=C–C–H | 0–3 | ≈1–2 | |
| Other | Aldehyde CHO–CH | O=C(H)–C–H | 1–3 | ≈2 | |
| Aromatic | ortho | H–C=C–H in the ring | 6–10 | ≈7–8 | |
| Aromatic | meta | H–C–C–C–H in the ring | 1–3 | ≈2 | |
| Aromatic | para | across the ring | 0–1 | ≈0 | Usually not resolved. |
Vicinal couplings follow the Karplus relation: largest near 0° and 180° dihedral angles, smallest near 90°.
How to use the table
- Type a group or solvent in the search box. All four tables filter at once.
- To assign a peak, enter its shift and pick ¹H or ¹³C. The matching ranges turn orange on the chart and the table keeps only those rows.
- Before assigning, mark the solvent and water peaks from the solvent table, so you do not mistake them for your compound.
- Use the coupling table to tell cis from trans alkenes and ortho from meta aromatic protons.
- Print the page or download the visible tables as CSV.
Sources and limits
- Group ranges for ¹H and ¹³C and the coupling constants: D. L. Pavia, G. M. Lampman, G. S. Kriz & J. R. Vyvyan, Introduction to Spectroscopy, 5th ed. (Cengage, 2015); R. M. Silverstein, F. X. Webster, D. J. Kiemle & D. L. Bryce, Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds, 8th ed. (Wiley, 2014). Ranges are typical, rounded values; real shifts can fall outside them.
- Solvent residual peaks, solvent ¹³C peaks, water peaks, and every value marked (F): G. R. Fulmer, A. J. M. Miller, N. H. Sherden, H. E. Gottlieb, A. Nudelman, B. M. Stoltz, J. E. Bercaw & K. I. Goldberg, "NMR Chemical Shifts of Trace Impurities: Common Laboratory Solvents, Organics, and Gases in Deuterated Solvents Relevant to the Organometallic Chemist", Organometallics 2010, 29, 2176–2179, doi:10.1021/om100106e. (F) examples are in CDCl₃.
- Exchangeable protons (OH, NH, COOH) depend strongly on solvent, concentration, temperature and water content. Their ranges are only a guide.
- This page lists ranges. To predict the ¹³C shifts of a given structure, use the 13C NMR predictor. For full trace-impurity tables, see Fulmer et al.
Frequently asked questions
What is the residual peak of CDCl3?
CHCl₃ in CDCl₃ gives a ¹H singlet at 7.26 ppm and the CDCl₃ carbon a ¹³C triplet at 77.16 ppm. Water in CDCl₃ appears near 1.56 ppm (Fulmer et al. 2010).
What is the residual peak of DMSO-d6?
The residual DMSO-d₅ quintet is at 2.50 ppm in ¹H and the ¹³C septet at 39.52 ppm. Water in DMSO-d₆ appears near 3.33 ppm.
Where do aldehyde protons appear in 1H NMR?
Between about 9.0 and 10.5 ppm. Only carboxylic acid O–H protons (10.5–13 ppm) appear further downfield in common organic molecules.
What are typical J values for cis and trans alkenes?
cis H–C=C–H couplings are about 6–12 Hz and trans couplings about 12–18 Hz, so trans is always the larger of the two in a given compound.
Where do carbonyl carbons appear in 13C NMR?
Ketones at about 195–220 ppm, aldehydes 185–205 ppm, and acids, esters, amides and anhydrides at about 160–185 ppm.
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