This book compiles reference material for NMR, IR, UV/Vis and mass spectra since the combined interpretation of spectra of the different methods is advantageous. It can be used in three ways:

• as compact and easy to understand companion material
• to complement the understanding of detailed textbooks
• as an easy to use reference book

The long-standing success of the work, which has been published in a total of 7 languages, proves the usefulness of this method of representation. The content of this fifth English edition now includes reference data for the interpretation of ¹⁵N- and ²⁹Si-spectra. Additionally, the fragmentation rules for mass spectrometry have been extended with recently available information for the interpretation of MS/MS spectra after soft ionization.

All three authors, Ernö Pretsch, Philippe Bühlmann and Martin Badertscher, studied at ETH Zurich, where in chemistry great importance is traditionally attached to combining the various methods of structure elucidation. They have many years of experience in the application and teaching of the spectroscopic methods discussed here.