Contributions to the Gaussian Line Broadening of the Proxyl Spin Probe EPR Spectrum Due to Magnetic-Field Modulation and Unresolved Proton Hyperfine Structure

A simple expression is derived to compute the total Gaussian linewidth of a Voigt line that is broadened by sinusoidal magnetic-field modulation as follows: ΔH^G_pp(H_m)²= ΔH^G_pp(0)²+ κ²H²_m, where ΔH^G_pp(H_m) is the Gaussian linewidth observed with an modulation amplitudeH_m/2 and ΔH^G_pp(0) is the Gaussian linewidth in the limit of zero modulation. The field modulation contributes an additional Gaussian broadening of κH_m, where κ is a constant, which adds in quadrature to ΔH^G_pp(0) to give the total Gaussian linewidth. Denoting the overall linewidth of the Voigt line in the absence of modulation broadening by ΔH⁰_pp(0), it is shown, both by analytical means and by spectral simulation, that the constant κ is equal to 1/2 in the limit ofH_m ΔH⁰_pp(0); however, using values ofH_mas large as ΔH⁰_pp(0) leads to only minor departures from κ = 1/2. The formulation is valid both for Lorentzian and Voigt lines and is tested for 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-1-oxyl-3-carboxylic acid (3-carboxy proxyl) in CCl₄and in aqueous buffer. This spin probe was studied because the proxyl group is the only major spin-probe moiety whose Gaussian linewidth had not been characterized in the literature. For 3-carboxy proxyl, it is found that ΔH^G_pp(0) = 1.04 ± 0.01 G independent of solvent polarity. Precision values of the¹⁴N hyperfine coupling constant for 3-carboxy proxyl at 9.5°C are as follows: 14.128 ± 0.001 G in CCl₄and 16.230 ± 0.002 G in aqueous buffer. The temperature dependence of ΔH^G_pp(0) and the¹⁴N hyperfine coupling constant are reported as empirical equations. Results of the present work taken together with previously published data permits accurate correction for the effects of inhomogeneous broadening due to unresolved hyperfine structure and modulation broadening for the majority of spin probes in common use.