3D 1H-13C-14N correlation solid-state NMR spectrum

Nitrogen-14 (spin I = 1) has always been a nucleus difficult to observe in solid-state NMR and until recently its observation was restricted to one-dimensional (1D) spectra. We present here the first 3D ¹H–¹³C–¹⁴N NMR correlation spectrum. This spectrum was acquired on a test sample l-histidine·HCl·H₂O using a recently developed technique, which consists in indirectly observing ¹⁴N nuclei via dipolar recoupling with an HMQC-type experiment.     

One- and two-dimensional C–H/N–H dipolar correlation experiments under fast magic-angle spinning for determining the peptide dihedral angle φ

A recently proposed ¹³C–¹H recoupling sequence operative under fast magic-angle spinning (MAS) [K. Takegoshi, T. Terao, Solid State Nucl. Magn. Reson. 13 (1999) 203–212.] is applied to observe ¹³C–¹H and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar powder patterns in the ¹H–¹⁵N–¹³C–¹H system of a peptide bond. Both patterns are correlated by ¹⁵N-to-¹³C cross polarization to observe one- or two-dimensional (1D or 2D) correlation spectra, which can be simulated by using a simple analytical expression to determine the H–N–C–H dihedral angle. The 1D and 2D experiments were applied to N-acetyl[1,2-¹³C,¹⁵N] -valine, and the peptide φ angle was determined with high precision by the 2D experiment to be ±155.0°±1.2°. The positive one is in good agreement with the X-ray value of 154°±5°. The 1D experiment provided the value of φ=±156.0°±0.8°.     

The 2D {P} Spin-Echo-Difference Constant-Time [C, H]-HMQC Experiment for Simultaneous Determination of JH3′P and JC4′P in C-Labeled Nucleic Acids and Their Protein Complexes

A two-dimensional {³¹P} spin-echo-difference constant-time [¹³C, ¹H]-HMQC experiment (2D {³¹P}-sedct-[¹³C, ¹H]-HMQC) is introduced for measurements of ³J_C4′P and ³J_H3′P scalar couplings in large ¹³C-labeled nucleic acids and in DNA–protein complexes. This experiment makes use of the fact that ¹H–¹³C multiple-quantum coherences in macromolecules relax more slowly than the corresponding ¹³C single-quantum coherences. ³J_C4′P and ³J_H3′P are related via Karplus-type functions with the phosphodiester torsion angles β and ε, respectively, and their experimental assessment therefore contributes to further improved quality of NMR solution structures. Data are presented for a uniformly ¹³C, ¹⁵N-labeled 14-base-pair DNA duplex, both free in solution and in a 17-kDa protein–DNA complex.     

Molecular dynamics and information on possible sites of interaction of intramyocellular metabolites in vivo from resolved dipolar couplings in localized H NMR spectra

Proton NMR resonances of the endogenous metabolites creatine and phosphocreatine ((P)Cr), taurine (Tau), and carnosine (Cs, β-alanyl-l-histidine) were studied with regard to residual dipolar couplings and molecular mobility. We present an analysis of the direct ¹H–¹H interaction that provides information on motional reorientation of subgroups in these molecules in vivo. For this purpose, localized ¹H NMR experiments were performed on m. gastrocnemius of healthy volunteers using a 1.5-T clinical whole-body MR scanner. We evaluated the observable dipolar coupling strength SD₀ (S = order parameter) of the (P)Cr-methyl triplet and the Tau-methylene doublet by means of the apparent line splitting. These were compared to the dipolar coupling strength of the (P)Cr-methylene doublet. In contrast to the aliphatic protons of (P)Cr and Tau, the aromatic H2 (δ = 8 ppm) and H4 (δ = 7 ppm) protons of the imidazole ring of Cs exhibit second-order spectra at 1.5 T. This effect is the consequence of incomplete transition from Zeeman to Paschen-Back regime and allows a determination of SD₀ from H2 and H4 of Cs as an alternative to evaluating the multiplet splitting which can be measured directly in high-resolution ¹H NMR spectra. Experimental data showed striking differences in the mobility of the metabolites when the dipolar coupling constant D₀ (calculated with the internuclear distance known from molecular geometry in the case of complete absence of molecular dynamics and motion) is used for comparison. The aliphatic signals involve very small order parameters S ≈ (1.4 − 3) × 10⁻⁴ indicating rapid reorientation of the corresponding subgroups in these metabolites. In contrast, analysis of the Cs resonances yielded S ≈ (113 − 137) × 10⁻⁴. Thus, the immobilization of the Cs imidazole ring owing to an anisotropic cellular substructure in human m. gastrocnemius is much more effective than for (P)Cr and Tau subgroups. Furthermore, ¹H NMR experiments on aqueous model solutions of histidine and N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) enabled the assignment of an additional signal component at δ = 8 ppm of Cs in vivo to the amide group at the peptide bond. The visibility of this proton could result from hydrogen bonding which would agree with the anticipated stronger motional restriction of Cs. Referring to the observation that all dipolar-coupled multiplets resolved in localized in vivo ¹H NMR spectra of human m. gastrocnemius collapse simultaneously when the fibre structure is tilted towards the magic angle (θ ≈ 55°), a common model for molecular confinement in muscle tissue is proposed on the basis of an interaction of the studied metabolites with myocellular membrane phospholipids.     

In Vivo Detection of N-Coupled Protons in Rat Brain by ISIS Localization and Multiple-Quantum Editing

Three-dimensional image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) was combined with phase-cycled ¹H–¹⁵N heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) transfer NMR for localized selective observation of protons J-coupled to ¹⁵N in phantoms and in vivo. The ISIS–HMQC sequence, supplemented by jump–return water suppression, permitted localized selective observation of 2–5 μmol of [¹⁵N_indole]tryptophan, a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin, through the ¹⁵N-coupled proton in 20–40 min of acquisition in vitro at 4.7 T. In vivo, the amide proton of [5-¹⁵N]glutamine was selectively observed in the brain of spontaneously breathing ¹⁵NH₄⁺-infused rats, using a volume probe with homogeneous ¹H and ¹⁵N fields. Signal recovery after three-dimensional localization was 72–82% in phantoms and 59 ± 4% in vivo. The result demonstrates that localized selective observation of ¹⁵N-coupled protons, with complete cancellation of all other protons except water, can be achieved in spontaneously breathing animals by the ISIS–HMQC sequence. This sequence performs both volume selection and heteronuclear editing through an addition/subtraction scheme and predicts the highest intrinsic sensitivity for detection of ¹⁵N-coupled protons in the selected volume. The advantages and limitations of this method for in vivo application are compared to those of other localized editing techniques currently in use for non-exchanging protons.     

Rotational spectrum of the Ar–dimethyl sulfide complex

The rotational spectra of three isotopomers of the Ar–dimethyl sulfide (DMS) complex – normal, ³⁴S, and ¹³C species – were measured in the frequency region from 3.7 up to 24.1 GHz by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The normal species yielded 43 a-type and 79 c-type transitions. No Ar tunneling splitting was observed, while many transitions were split by the internal rotation of the two methyl tops of the DMS unit. In cases where the K-type splitting was close to that due to methyl internal-rotation, several forbidden transitions were observed that followed b-type selection rules. All of the observed transition frequencies were analyzed simultaneously using a phenomenological Hamiltonian also used in previously published work describing the Ar–dimethyl ether (DME) and Ne–DME complexes. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants and the potential barrier height to methyl-top internal rotation, V₃, were determined. The rotational constants were consistent with an Ar–DMS center of mass (cm) distance of 3.796 (3) Å and a S–cm–Ar angle of 104.8 (2)°. The V₃ potential barrier obtained, 736.17 (32) cm⁻¹, was 97.8% of the DMS monomer barrier. By assuming a Lennard–Jones-type potential, the dissociation energy was estimated to be 2.4 kJ mol⁻¹, which was close to the value for Ar–DME, 2.5 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Detection and Characterization of Boric Acid and Borate Ion Binding to Cytochrome c Using Multiple Quantum Filtered NMR

The application of multiple quantum filtered (MQF) NMR to the identification and characterization of the binding of ligands containing quadrupolar nuclei to proteins is demonstrated. Using relaxation times measured by MQF NMR multiple binding of boric acid and borate ion to ferri and ferrocytochrome c was detected. Borate ion was found to have two different binding sites. One of them was in slow exchange, k_diss = 20 ± 3 s⁻¹ at 5°C and D₂O solution, in agreement with previous findings by ¹H NMR (G. Taler et al., 1998, Inorg. Chim. Acta 273, 388–392). The triple quantum relaxation of the borate in this site was found to be governed by dipolar interaction corresponding to an average B–H distance of 2.06 ± 0.07 Å. Other, fast exchanging sites for borate and boric acid could be detected only by MQF NMR. The binding equilibrium constants at these sites at pH 9.7 were found to be 1800 ± 200 M⁻¹ and 2.6 ± 1.5 M⁻¹ for the borate ion and boric acid, respectively. Thus, detection of binding by MQF NMR proved to be sensitive to fast exchanging ligands as well as to very weak binding that could not be detected using conventional methods.     

CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy of O3. Part 3: Analysis of the 6490–6900 cm region and overview comparison with the O3 main isotopologue

This paper is devoted to the third part of the analysis of the very weak absorption spectrum of the ¹⁸O₃ isotopologue of ozone recorded by CW-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy between 5930 and 6900 cm⁻¹. In the two first parts [A. Campargue, A. Liu, S. Kassi, D. Romanini, M.-R. De Backer-Barilly, A. Barbe, E. Starikova, S.A. Tashkun, Vl.G. Tyuterev, J. Mol. Spectrosc. (2009), doi: 10.1016/j.jms.2009.02.012 and E. Starikova, M.-R. De Backer-Barilly, A. Barbe, Vl.G. Tyuterev, A. Campargue, A.W.Liu, S. Kassi, J. Mol. Spectrosc. (2009) doi: 10.1016/j.jms.2009.03.013], the effective operators approach was used to model the spectrum in the 6200–6400 and 5930–6080 cm⁻¹ regions, respectively. The analysis of the whole investigated region is completed by the present investigation of the 6490–6900 cm⁻¹ upper range. Three sets of interacting states have been treated separately. The first one falls in the 6490–6700 cm⁻¹ region, where 1555 rovibrational transitions were assigned to three A-type bands: 3ν₂ + 5ν₃, 5ν₁ + ν₂ + ν₃ and 2ν₁ + 3ν₂ + 3ν₃ and one B-type band: ν₁ + 3ν₂ + 4ν₃. The corresponding line positions were reproduced with an rms deviation of 18.4 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ by using an effective Hamiltonian (EH) model involving eight vibrational states coupled by resonance interactions. In the highest spectral region – 6700–6900 cm⁻¹ – 389 and 183 transitions have been assigned to the ν₁ + 2ν₂ + 5ν₃ and 4ν₁ + 3ν₂ + ν₃ A-type bands, respectively. These very weak bands correspond to the most excited upper vibrational states observed so far in ozone. The line positions of the ν₁ + 2ν₂ + 5ν₃ band were reproduced with an rms deviation of 7.3 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ by using an EH involving the {(054), (026), (125)} interacting states. The coupling of the (431) upper state with the (502) dark state was needed to account for the observed line positions of the 4ν₁ + 3ν₂ + ν₃ band (rms = 5.7 × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹).The dipole transition moment parameters were determined for the different observed bands. The obtained set of parameters and the experimentally determined energy levels were used to generate a complete line list provided as Supplementary Materials.The results of the analyses of the whole 5930–6900 cm⁻¹ spectral region were gathered and used for a comparison of the band centres to their calculated values. The agreement achieved for both ¹⁸O₃ and ¹⁶O₃ (average difference on the order of 1 cm⁻¹) indicates that the used potential energy surface provides accurate predictions up to a vibrational excitation approaching 80% of the dissociation energy. The comparison of the ¹⁸O₃ and ¹⁶O₃ band intensities is also discussed, opening a field of questions concerning the variation of the dipole moments and resonance intensity borrowing by isotopic substitution.     

High-pressure polymorphic transformation of rutile to alpha-PbO2-type TiO2 at {011}R twin boundaries

The presence of nano-scale lamellae of the α-PbO₂-type polymorph of TiO₂ sandwiched between twinned rutile inclusions in jadeite has been confirmed by electron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, backed up by image simulation techniques, from ultrahigh-pressure jadeite quartzite at Shuanghe in the Dabie Mountains, China. The crystal structure is orthorhombic with lattice parameters a = 4.58 Å, b = 5.42 Å, c = 5.02 Å and space group Pbcn. A three-dimensional structural model has been constructed for the rutile to α-PbO₂-type TiO₂ phase transformation based on high-resolution electron microscopic images. Computer image simulation and structural model analysis reveal that rutile {0 1 1}_R twin interface is a basic structural unit of α-PbO₂-type TiO₂. Nucleation of α-PbO₂-type TiO₂ lamellae 1–2 nm thick is caused by the displacement of one half of the titanium cations within the {0 1 1}_R twin slab. This displacement reduces the Ti–O–Ti distance and is favored by high pressure.     

Structural analysis of uniformly C-labelled solids from selective angle measurements at rotational resonance

We demonstrate that individual H–C–C–H torsional angles in uniformly labelled organic solids can be estimated by selective excitation of ¹³C double-quantum coherences under magic-angle spinning at rotational resonance. By adapting a straightforward one-dimensional experiment described earlier [T. Karlsson, M. Eden, H. Luhman, M.H. Levitt, J. Magn. Reson. 145 (2000) 95–107], a double-quantum filtered spectrum selective for Cα and Cβ of uniformly labelled l-[¹³C,¹⁵N]valine is obtained with 25% efficiency. The evolution of Cα–Cβ double-quantum coherence under the influence of the dipolar fields of bonded protons is monitored to provide a value of the Hα–Cα–Cβ–Hβ torsional angle that is consistent with the crystal structure. In addition, double-quantum filtration selective for C6 and C1′ of uniformly labelled [¹³C,¹⁵N]uridine is achieved with 12% efficiency for a ¹³C–¹³C distance of 2.5 Å, yielding a reliable estimate of the C6–H and C1′–H projection angle defining the relative orientations of the nucleoside pyrimidine and ribose rings. This procedure will be useful, in favourable cases, for structural analysis of fully labelled small molecules such as receptor ligands that are not readily synthesised with labels placed selectively at structurally diagnostic sites.     

Design and construction of a versatile dual volume heteronuclear double resonance microcoil NMR probe

Improved NMR detection of mass limited samples can be obtained by taking advantage of the mass sensitivity of microcoil NMR, while throughput issues can be addressed using multiple, parallel sample detection coils. We present the design and construction of a double resonance 300-MHz dual volume microcoil NMR probe with thermally etched 440-nL detection volumes and fused silica transfer lines for high-throughput stopped-flow or flow-through sample analysis. Two orthogonal solenoidal detection coils and the novel use of shielded inductors allowed the construction of a probe with negligible radio-frequency cross talk. The probe was resonated at ¹H–²D (upper coil) and ¹H–¹³C (lower coil) frequencies such that it could perform 1D and 2D experiments with active locking frequency. The coils exhibited line widths of 0.8–1.1 Hz with good mass sensitivity for both ¹H and ¹³C NMR detection. ¹³C-directly detected ²D HETCOR spectra of 5% v/v ¹³C labeled acetic acid were obtained in less than 5 min. Demonstration of the probe characteristics as well as applications of the versatile two-coil double resonance probe are discussed.     

The factor of nonparaxial Hermite–Gaussian beams and related problems

On the basis of the second-order moment of the power density and in the use of the series expansion, the expressions for the beam width, far-field divergence angle and M² factor of nonparaxial Hermite–Gaussian (H–G) beams are derived and expressed in a sum of the series of the Gamma function. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical examples. The M² factor of nonparaxial H–G beams depends not only on the beam order m, but also on the waist-width to wavelength ratio w₀/λ. The far-field divergence angles of nonparaxial H–G beams with even and odd orders approach their upper limits θ_max=63.435 and 73.898, respectively, which results in M²<1 as w₀/λ→0. For the special case of m=0 our results reduce to those of nonparaxial Gaussian beams. Some problems related to the characterization of the nonparaxial beam quality are also discussed.     

New observation of the , 1Δg, and 2Πg states and molecular constants with all Li2, Li2, and LiLi data

This paper reports our new observation of the , 1³Δ_g (v = 2–4), and 2³Π_g (v = 2–8) states of ⁶Li⁷Li by continuous wave perturbation facilitated optical–optical double resonance spectroscopy. Combining our new experimental term values of ⁶Li⁷Li with the available experimental data of ⁶Li₂ and ⁷Li₂, molecular constants and potential energy curves by Rydberg–Klein–Rees and direct-potential-fit techniques have been determined. Born-Oppenheimer breakdown parameters of the Li₂ 1³Δ_g and 2³Π_g states are calculated.     

29Si NMR in solid state with CPMG acquisition under MAS

A remarkable enhancement of sensitivity can be often achieved in ²⁹Si solid-state NMR by applying the well-known Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) train of rotor-synchronized π pulses during the detection of silicon magnetization. Here, several one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) techniques are used to demonstrate the capabilities of this approach. Examples include 1D ²⁹Si{X} CPMAS spectra and 2D ²⁹Si{X} HETCOR spectra of mesoporous silicas, zeolites and minerals, where X = ¹H or ²⁷Al. Data processing methods, experimental strategies and sensitivity limits are discussed and illustrated by experiments. The mechanisms of transverse dephasing of ²⁹Si nuclei in solids are analyzed. Fast magic angle spinning, at rates between 25 and 40 kHz, is instrumental in achieving the highest sensitivity gain in some of these experiments. In the case of ²⁹Si–²⁹Si double-quantum techniques, CPMG detection can be exploited to measure homonuclear J-couplings.     

Reinvestigation of the (4, 20) band of the O2 second negative system

High resolution absorption spectra of the (4, 20) band in the second negative system (A²Π_u–X²Π_g) of O₂⁺ cation were measured and analyzed in the range of 11 900–12 300 cm^–1 via optical heterodyne velocity modulation spectroscopy. Precise molecular constants of the levels involved were obtained by a nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure combining with our previous spectra of the (4, 19) and (6, 20) bands.     

Isotope Effects on theO,H Coupling Constant and theO–{H} Nuclear Overhauser Effect in Water

The NMR spectra of solutions of 30%¹⁷O-enriched H₂O and D₂O in nitromethane display the resonances of the three isotopomers H₂O, HDO, and D₂O. All¹⁷O,¹H and¹⁷O,²H coupling constants and the primary and secondary isotope effects onJ(¹⁷O,¹H) have been determined. The primary effect is −1.0 ± 0.2 Hz and the secondary effect is −0.07 ± 0.04 Hz. Using integrated intensities in the¹⁷O NMR spectra, the equilibrium constant for the reaction H₂O + D₂O 2HDO is found to be 3.68 ± 0.2 at 343 K. From the relative integrated intensities of proton-coupled and -decoupled spectra the¹⁷O–{¹H} NOE is estimated for the first time, resulting in values of 0.908 and 0.945 for H₂O and HDO, respectively. This means that dipole–dipole interactions contribute about 2.5% to the overall¹⁷O relaxation rate in H₂O dissolved in nitromethane.     

Cycloaddition of 2′-azidoethyl glycosides to fullerene[C60] under ultrasonic irradiation

The reactions of fullerene[C₆₀] with 2′-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (2a) and 2′-azidoethyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (2b) under ultrasonic irradiation cause the cycloaddition of 2′-azidoethyl glycosides to fullerene[C₆₀] and lead to d-glycosyl fullerene[C₆₀] derivatives 3a and 3b, respectively. The glycosyl fullerene[C₆₀] derivatives were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–vis, FAB-MS, FT-IR spectra and were a 1:1 glycoside fullerene [C₆₀]-adduct.     

Lithium ion conductive glass–ceramics with Li3Fe2(PO4)3 and YAG laser-induced local crystallization in lithium iron phosphate glasses

The glasses with the composition of 37.5Li₂O–(25 − x)Fe₂O₃–xNb₂O₅–37.5P₂O₅ (mol%) (x = 5,10,15) are prepared, and it is found that the addition of Nb₂O₅ is effective for the glass formation in the lithium iron phosphate system. The glass–ceramics consisting of Nasicon-type Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃ crystals with an orthorhombic structure are developed through conventional crystallization in an electric furnace, showing electrical conductivities of 3 × 10^− 6 Scm^− 1 at room temperature and the activation energies of 0.48 eV (x = 5) and 0.51 eV (x = 10) for Li⁺ ion conduction in the temperature range of 30–200 °C. A continuous wave Nd:YAG laser (wavelength: 1064 nm) with powers of 0.14–0.30 W and a scanning speed of 10 μm/s is irradiated onto the surface of the glasses, and the formation of Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃ crystals is confirmed from XRD analyses and micro-Raman scattering spectra. The crystallization of the precursor glasses is considered as new route for the fabrication of Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃ crystals being candidates for use as electrolyte materials in lithium ion secondary batteries.     

Enhancement of upconversion luminescence in Tm/Er/Yb-codoped glass ceramic containing LiYF4 nanocrystals

A transparent Er³⁺–Tm³⁺–Yb³⁺ tri-doped oxyfluoride glass ceramics containing LiYF₄ nanocrystals were prepared. Under 980 nm laser diode (LD) pumping, intensive red, green and blue upconversion (UC) was obtained. The blue, green, and red UC radiations correspond to the transitions ¹G₄→³H₆ of Tm³⁺, ²H_11/2/⁴S_3/2→⁴I_15/2, and ⁴F_9/2→⁴I_15/2 of Er³⁺ ions, respectively. This is similar to that in Tm³⁺–Yb³⁺ and/or Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ co-doped glass ceramics. However, the blue UC radiations of the Er³⁺–Yb³⁺ co-doped glass ceramics is two-photon process due to cooperative energy transfer. The UC mechanisms were proposed based on spectral, kinetic, and pump power dependence analyses.     

The sub-millimeter and Fourier transform microwave spectrum of HZnCl (X Σ)

The pure rotational spectrum of HZnCl (X ¹Σ⁺) has been recorded using sub-millimeter direct-absorption methods in the range of 439–540 GHz and Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) techniques from 9 to 39 GHz. This species was produced by the reaction of zinc vapor and chlorine gas with H₂ or D₂ in a d.c. glow discharge for the sub-millimeter studies. In the FTMW measurements, HZnCl was created in a discharge nozzle from Cl₂ and (CH₃)₂Zn. Between 5 and 10 rotational transitions were measured in the sub-millimeter regime for four zinc and two chlorine isotopologues; four transitions were recorded with the FTMW machine for the main isotopologue, each consisting of several chlorine hyperfine components. The data are consistent with a linear molecule and a ¹Σ⁺ ground electronic state. Rotational and chlorine quadrupole constants were established from the spectra, as well as an r_m⁽²⁾ structure. The Zn–Cl and Zn–H bond lengths were determined to be 2.0829 and 1.5050 Å, respectively; in contrast, the Zn–Cl bond distance in ZnCl is 2.1300 Å, longer by 0.050 Å. The zinc–chlorine bond distance therefore shortens with the addition of the H atom. The ³⁵Cl electric quadrupole coupling constant of eQq = −27.429 MHz found for HZnCl suggests that this molecule is primarily an ionic species with some covalent character for the Zn–Cl bond.