ABOUT EVENT
Discover Magnethon
Magnethon is the first event that merges learning and competition in the field of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). This unique challenge is open to students, PhD candidates, researchers, and professors, anyone looking to deepen their expertise through hands-on experiments, data analysis, and discussions with international experts.
Educational focus
At the core of Magnethon 2025 is quantification explored through four analytical approaches: intramolecular quantification, intermolecular quantification using internal standard methods, intermolecular quantification using external standard methods, and quantification using artificial signals.
The event employs an active learning approach, combining practical experimentation, guided mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving to enhance participants’ understanding of quantitative NMR techniques. Through direct engagement with experimental data and statistical analysis, attendees will develop essential skills for accurate and reproducible quantification in NMR spectroscopy.
Collaborative Learning
Engage in hands-on spectroscopic challenges, fostering teamwork, innovation, and practical quantitative NMR expertise development for all.
Global Expertise and Resources
International experts and prestigious institutions provide facilities, resources, and mentorship for scientific advancement.
Beginner-Friendly Environment
Novices learn fundamental NMR principles through guided, supportive training, ensuring accessible entry and skill growth.
What to Expect
Below is a list of the previously published articles, providing insight into the outcomes of past NMR laboratory comparisons:
- first interlaboratory comparison /10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00919
- second interlaboratory comparison /10.1007/s12161-019-01664-8
- third interlaboratory comparison /10.1016/j.talanta.2020.120855
Participation Requirements
Participation in Magnethon 2025 is open to all institutions and organizations equipped with NMR spectrometers operating at a magnetic field strength of 60 MHz or higher. As long as you meet this requirement, you are welcome to form a team and register for the competition.
How does It Works?
- Team Formation & Registration
Teams are created at the moment of registration, and each must appoint a leader who is a student or a junior researcher without a permanent position. When registering, you will also list all team members and choose a team name, ensuring a clear identity for your group. Please note that registration grants only one member of each team the right to participate in person, while the remaining members are invited to join remotely.
- Topic
The analytical goals of Magnethon 2025 are twofold: to determine the concentration of (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin and to calculate its degree of substitution (DS).
To achieve these objectives, participants will work with four samples:
– sample A containing only (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin at an unknown concentration;
– sample B containing (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin at an unknown concentration, alongside three reference compounds, namely dimethyl sulfone, fumaric acid, and 3-(trimethylsilyl)propionic-2,2,3,3-d4 acid, sodium salt (TSP-d₄) at known concentration values;
– sample C containing only the three reference standards (dimethyl sulfone, fumaric acid, and TSP-d₄) at known concentration values;
– sample D including the same reference standards dimethyl sulfone, fumaric acid, and TSP-d₄, and mannitol as matrix simulation agent, all at known concentrations.
Participants are tasked with determining the Degree of Substitution (DS) in both Samples A and B by comparing the methyl signals (around 1 ppm) with the glycosidic hydrogen signals (around 5 ppm). They must also determine the concentration of (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin in Samples A and B using their preferred quantification strategy, either the internal standard method using sample B or the external standard method, making use of the additional samples C and D.
Please note that the topic has been slightly modified with respect to the initial version. The attention was shifted from sample preparation to acquisition conditions. In particular, this new version emphasizes the critical role of spectral acquisition parameters in achieving accurate and reproducible results. Participants will be encouraged to make informed choices regarding aspects such as pulse angle, relaxation delay, number of scans, etc. These individual decisions will be part of the scientific discussion during the event, offering a valuable opportunity to explore how methodological differences can influence quantitative NMR outcomes.
All materials and detailed instructions, including sample preparation guidelines and data analysis protocols, will be provided to participants. These resources will help ensure consistency across the three approaches and support teams in successfully quantifying (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin and determining its degree of substitution.
- Sample delivery
Teams will receive all materials and guidelines by July 31, 2025.
- Experimentation
Teams will conduct NMR experiments between August 1 and October 31, 2025, then analyze data and submit results. For full instructions and rules, Guidelines-and-contract-terms.
- Sharing and Discussion
Team members will compare results with other participants during the event, held November 17–19, 2025. They can continue refining their results until the end of Magnethon.
- Award Ceremony
The team whose results are closest to the consensus values—based on a Gaussian curve analysis—will be crowned the winner! And the prize? An advanced automated sample preparation system, giving the champions a cutting-edge tool to elevate their future research!
Partners
