NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry are commonly used to determine the structure of natural products. However, atomic-resolution scanning probe microscopy could do the job faster, with less sample and could correct configurational misassignments, according to work published by Leo Gross and co-workers, IBM Research, Switzerland.

Proof of principle was demonstrated using the natural product cephalandole A, which was previously misassigned by conventional techniques. Direct imaging of an organic compound with atomic resolution is possible and results are corroborated by density functional theory calculations.

• Organic structure determination using atomic-resolution scanning probe microscopy
  L. Gross, F. Mohn, N. Moll, G. Meyer, R. Ebel, W. M. Abdel-Mageed, M. Jaspars,
  Nat. Chem. 2010, 2, 821-825.
  DOI: 10.1038/nchem.765