Probing the solvation shell of organic molecules by intermolecular HNOESY

The solvation of some neutral and charged organic molecules (phenol, nitroanilines, tetraalkylammonium) in binary solvent mixtures was investigated by means of intermolecular H-1-NOESY NMR spectroscopy. The solvation shell of the solute is, in most cases, selectively enriched in one of the cosolvents (preferential solvation). The origin of preferential solvation is discussed in terms of solute-solvent interactions and microheterogeneity in the solvent mixture. Copyright (C) 2002 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.