DEPT

The DEPT (Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer) experiment is used to determine the multiplicity of carbon atoms, that is, whether they are C, CH, CH2, or CH3. The DEPT 135 experiment used at Columbia gives inverted CH2 and C groups. CH and CH3 groups are upright. The DEPT 90 produces inverted C groups and upright CH's. The CH2's and CH3's are nulled.

For some nuclei with negative gyromagnetic ratio, the DEPT experiment can provide much higher signal-to-noise than the standard 1D experiment with ¹H decoupled NOE.  This is true only for peaks that have observable couplings to proton.   For example, for ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N, the DEPT provides at least 2.5 times more signal than the standard 1D with NOE.

Below is a group of DEPT spectra taken of  sucrose at 300 MHz.