Abstract. The application of anisotropic nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters for the correct
structural assignment of small molecules requires the use of partially
ordered media. Previously we demonstrated that the use of P3D simulations
using poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) as an alignment medium allows for the determination of the correct
diastereomer from extremely sparse NMR data. Through the analysis of the
structural characteristics of small molecules in different alignment media, here we show that when steric or electrostatic factors dominate the
alignment, P3D-PBLG retains its diastereomer discrimination power. We also
demonstrate that P3D simulations can define the different conformations of a flexible small molecule from sparse NMR data.