Fast acquisition of multi-dimensional spectra in solid-state NMR enabled by ultra-fast MAS

The advantages offered by ultra-fast (>60 kHz) magic angle spinning (MAS) rotation for the study of biological samples, notably containing paramagnetic centers are explored.It is shown that optimal conditions for performing solid-state ¹³C NMR under 60 kHz MAS are obtained with low-power CW ¹H decoupling, as well as after a low-power ¹H,¹³C cross-polarization step at a double-quantum matching condition. Acquisition with low-power decoupling highlights the existence of rotational decoupling sidebands. The sideband intensities and the existence of first and second rotary conditions are explained in the framework of the Floquet–van Vleck theory.As a result, optimal ¹³C spectra of the oxidized, paramagnetic form of human copper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) can be obtained employing rf-fields which do not exceed 40 kHz during the whole experiment. This enables the removal of unwanted heating which can lead to deterioration of the sample. Furthermore, combined with the short ¹H T₁s, this allows the repetition rate of the experiments to be shortened from 3 s to 500 ms, thus compensating for the sensitivity loss due to the smaller sample volume in a 1.3 mm rotor. The result is that 2D ¹³C–¹³C correlation could be acquired in about 24 h on less than 1 mg of SOD sample.     

High-resolution solid-state NMR of anisotropically mobile molecules under very low-power H decoupling and moderate magic-angle spinning

We show that for observing high-resolution heteronuclear NMR spectra of anisotropically mobile systems with order parameters less than 0.25, moderate magic-angle spinning (MAS) rates of 11 kHz combined with ¹H decoupling at 1–2 kHz are sufficient. Broadband decoupling at this low ¹H nutation frequency is achieved by composite pulse sequences such as WALTZ-16. We demonstrate this moderate MAS low-power decoupling technique on hydrated POPC lipid membranes, and show that 1 kHz ¹H decoupling yields spectra with the same resolution and sensitivity as spectra measured under 50 kHz ¹H decoupling when the same acquisition times (50 ms) are used, but the low-power decoupled spectra give higher resolution and sensitivity when longer acquisition times (>150 ms) are used, which are not possible with high-power decoupling. The limits of validity of this approach are explored for a range of spinning rates and molecular mobilities using more rigid membrane systems such as POPC/cholesterol mixed bilayers. Finally, we show ¹⁵N and ¹³C spectra of a uniaxially diffusing membrane peptide assembly, the influenza A M2 transmembrane domain, under 11 kHz MAS and 2 kHz ¹H decoupling. The peptide ¹⁵N and ¹³C intensities at low-power decoupling are 70–80% of the high-power decoupled intensities. Therefore, it is possible to study anisotropically mobile lipids and membrane peptides using liquid-state NMR equipment, relatively large rotors, and moderate MAS frequencies.     

Experimental method for low-temperature reaction studies in sealed samples by 13C CP/MAS NMR

A new, simple, and inexpensive technique is presented for monitoring high-resolution solid-state NMR of ¹³C at temperatures ranging between 85 and 450 K. In this procedure, the reaction conditions are controlled by preparing samples at 77 K in 5 mm NMR tubes, while attached to a vacuum system. The NMR tubes are prefitted with a rotor for spinning. After preparation, the samples are sealed, transferred to the double-resonance MAS NMR probe, and analyzed, all while the sample temperature is maintained as low as 85 K. The spinning rates vary from 3.0 kHz at 85 K to 5.2 kHz at 300 K using nitrogen drive gas. Probe design and performance, sample-preparation procedure, and details of the low-temperature experiment are described. In general, the technique may be applied in studies of low-temperature reaction mechanisms and kinetics. ¹³C CP/MAS spectra of ethylene adsorbed on silica-supported ruthenium catalyst are presented to illustrate its performance and possible application.     

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.     

A low-E magic angle spinning probe for biological solid state NMR at 750 MHz

Crossed-coil NMR probes are a useful tool for reducing sample heating for biological solid state NMR. In a crossed-coil probe, the higher frequency ¹H field, which is the primary source of sample heating in conventional probes, is produced by a separate low-inductance resonator. Because a smaller driving voltage is required, the electric field across the sample and the resultant heating is reduced. In this work we describe the development of a magic angle spinning (MAS) solid state NMR probe utilizing a dual resonator. This dual resonator approach, referred to as “low-E,” was originally developed to reduce heating in samples of mechanically aligned membranes. The study of inherently dilute systems, such as proteins in lipid bilayers, via MAS techniques requires large sample volumes at high field to obtain spectra with adequate signal-to-noise ratio under physiologically relevant conditions. With the low-E approach, we are able to obtain homogeneous and sufficiently strong radiofrequency fields for both ¹H and ¹³C frequencies in a 4 mm probe with a ¹H frequency of 750 MHz. The performance of the probe using windowless dipolar recoupling sequences is demonstrated on model compounds as well as membrane-embedded peptides.     

Improved quantification of alite and belite in anhydrous Portland cements by Si MAS NMR: Effects of paramagnetic ions

The applicability, reliability, and repeatability of ²⁹Si MAS NMR for determination of the quantities of alite (Ca₃SiO₅) and belite (Ca₂SiO₄) in anhydrous Portland cement was investigated in detail for 11 commercial Portland cements and the results compared with phase quantifications based on powder X-ray diffraction combined with Rietveld analysis and with Taylor–Bogue calculations. The effects from paramagnetic ions (Fe³⁺) on the spinning sideband intensities, originating from dipolar couplings between ²⁹Si and the spins of the paramagnetic electrons, were considered and analyzed in spectra recorded at four magnetic fields (4.7–14.1 T) and this has led to an improved quantification of alite and belite from ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra recorded at “high” spinning speeds of ν_R=12.0–13.0 kHz using 4 or 5 mm rotors. Furthermore, the impact of Fe³⁺ ions on the spin-lattice relaxation was studied by inversion-recovery experiments and it was found that the relaxation is overwhelmingly dominated by the Fe³⁺ ions incorporated as guest-ions in alite and belite rather than the Fe³⁺ sites present in the intimately mixed ferrite phase (Ca₂Al_xFe_2−xO₅).     

C, N CPMAS NMR and GIAO DFT calculations of stereoisomeric oxindole alkaloids from Cat's Claw (Uncaria tomentosa)

Oxindole alkaloids, isolated from the bark of Uncaria tomentosa [Willd. ex Schult.] Rubiaceae, are considered to be responsible for the biological activity of this herb. Five pentacyclic and two tetracyclic alkaloids were studied by solid-state NMR and theoretical GIAO DFT methods. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR spectra were recorded for mitraphylline, isomitraphylline, pteropodine (uncarine C), isopteropodine (uncarine E), speciophylline (uncarine D), rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline. Theoretical GIAO DFT calculations of shielding constants provide arguments for identification of asymmetric centers and proper assignment of NMR spectra. These alkaloids are 7R/7S and 20R/20S stereoisomeric pairs. Based on the ¹³C CP MAS chemical shifts the 7S alkaloids (δ C3 70–71 ppm) can be easily and conveniently distinguished from 7R (δC3 74.5–74.9 ppm), also 20R (δC20 41.3–41.7 ppm) from the 20S (δC20 36.3–38.3 ppm). The epiallo-type isomer (3R, 20S) of speciophylline is characterized by a larger ¹⁵N MAS chemical shift of N4 (64.6 ppm) than the allo-type (3S, 20S) of isopteropodine (δN4 53.3 ppm). ¹⁵N MAS chemical shifts of N1–H in pentacyclic alkaloids are within 131.9–140.4 ppm.     

C NMR of polyolefins with a new high temperature 10 mm cryoprobe

Recently, a high temperature 10 mm cryoprobe was developed. This probe provides a significant sensitivity enhancement for ¹³C NMR of polyolefins at a sample temperature of 120–135 °C, as compared to conventional probes. This greatly increases the speed of NMR studies of comonomer content, sequence distribution, stereo- and regioerrors, saturated chain end, unsaturation, and diffusion of polymers. In this contribution, we first compare the ¹³C NMR sensitivity of this probe with conventional probes. Then, we demonstrate one of the advantages of this probe in its ability to perform 2D Incredible Natural Abundance Double Quantum Transfer Experiment (2D INADEQUATE) in a relatively short period of time. The 2D INADEQUATE has been rarely used for polymer studies because of its inherently very low sensitivity. It becomes even more challenging for studying infrequent polyolefin microstructures, as low probability microstructures represent a small fraction of carbons in the sample. Here, the 2D INADEQUATE experiment was used to assign the ¹³C NMR peaks of 2,1-insertion regioerrors in a poly(propylene-co-1-octene) copolymer.     

Why does PMLG proton decoupling work at 65 kHz MAS?

Schemes such as phase-modulated Lee–Goldburg (PMLG) for homonuclear dipolar decoupling have been shown to yield high-resolution ¹H spectra at high magic-angle spinning (MAS) frequencies of 50–70 kHz. This is at variance to the commonly held notion that these methods require MAS frequencies not comparable to the cycle frequencies of the pulse schemes. Here, a theoretical argument, based on bimodal Floquet theory, is presented to explain this aspect together with conditions where PMLG type of schemes may be successful at high MAS frequencies.     

Enhanced resolution in proton solid-state NMR with very-fast MAS experiments

We present a new smooth amplitude-modulated (SAM) method that allows to observe highly resolved ¹H spectra in solid-state NMR. The method, which works mainly at fast or ultra-fast MAS speed (ν_R > 25 kHz) is complementary to previous methods, such as DUMBO, FSLG/PMLG or symmetry-based sequences. The method is very robust and efficient and does not present line-shape distortions or fake peaks. The main limitation of the method is that it requires a modern console with fast electronics that must be able to define the cosine line-shape in a smooth way, without any transient. However, this limitation mainly occurs at ultra-fast MAS where the rotation period is very short.     

CHHC and H–H magnetization exchange: Analysis by experimental solid-state NMR and 11-spin density-matrix simulations

A protocol is presented for correcting the effect of non-specific cross-polarization in CHHC solid-state MAS NMR experiments, thus allowing the recovery of the ¹H–¹H magnetization exchange functions from the mixing-time dependent buildup of experimental CHHC peak intensity. The presented protocol also incorporates a scaling procedure to take into account the effect of multiplicity of a CH₂ or CH₃ moiety. Experimental CHHC buildup curves are presented for l-tyrosine·HCl samples where either all or only one in 10 molecules are U–¹³C labeled. Good agreement between experiment and 11-spin SPINEVOLUTION simulation (including only isotropic ¹H chemical shifts) is demonstrated for the initial buildup (t_mix < 100 μs) of CHHC peak intensity corresponding to an intramolecular close (2.5 Å) H–H proximity. Differences in the initial CHHC buildup are observed between the one in 10 dilute and 100% samples for cases where there is a close intermolecular H–H proximity in addition to a close intramolecular H–H proximity. For the dilute sample, CHHC cross-peak intensities tended to significantly lower values for long mixing times (500 μs) as compared to the 100% sample. This difference is explained as being due to the dependence of the limiting total magnetization on the ratio N_obs/N_tot between the number of protons that are directly attached to a ¹³C nucleus and hence contribute significantly to the observed ¹³C CHHC NMR signal, and the total number of ¹H spins into the system. ¹H–¹H magnetization exchange curves extracted from CHHC spectra for the 100% l-tyrosine·HCl sample exhibit a clear sensitivity to the root sum squared dipolar coupling, with fast buildup being observed for the shortest intramolecular distances (2.5 Å) and slower, yet observable buildup for the longer intermolecular distances (up to 5 Å).     

Laser-fluorescence diagnostics for condensation in laser-ablated copper plasmas

We are investigating the thermodynamic conditions under which condensation occurs in laser ablated copper plasma plumes. The plasma is created by XeCl excimer laser ablation (308 nm, 300 mJ/pulse) at power densities from 500–1000 MW/cm² into backing pressures of helium in the range 0–50 torr. We use laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to probe velocity and relative density of both atomic copper and the copper dimer molecule, Cu₂, which is formed during condensation onset. At low pressure (10 mtorr), the atomic Cu velocity peaks at approximately 2×10⁶ cm/s. Copper dimer time-of-flight data suggest that condensation onset occurs after the Cu atoms have slowed very significantly. Excitation scans of the Cu₂A-X (0,0) and (1,1) bands yield a rotational and vibrational temperature in the neighborhood of 300 K for all conditions studied. Such low temperatures support the theory that Cu₂ is formed under thermally and translationally cold conditions. Direct laser beam absorption is used to determine the number density of atomic copper. Typical densities attained with 5 torr of helium backing gas are 6–8×10¹³ cm^–3. Rayleigh scattering from particulate is easily observable under conditions favorable to particulate production.     

Spectral Editing in C MAS NMR under Moderately Fast Spinning Conditions

Novel procedures for the spectral assignment of peaks in high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR are discussed and demonstrated. These methods are based on the observation that at moderate and already widely available rates of magic-angle spinning (10–14 kHz MAS), CH and CH₂ moieties behave to a large extent as if they were effectively isolated from the surrounding proton reservoir. Dipolar-based analogs of editing techniques that are commonly used in liquid-state NMR such as APT and INEPT can then be derived, while avoiding the need for periods of homonuclear ¹H–¹H multipulse decoupling. The resulting experiments end up being very simple, essentially tuning-free, and capable of establishing unambiguous distinctions among CH, CH₂, and carbon sites. The principles underlying such sequences were explored using both numerical calculations and experimental measurements, and once validated their editing applications were illustrated on a number of compounds.     

Experimental and numerical examination of eddy (Foucault) currents in rotating micro-coils: Generation of heat and its impact on sample temperature

The application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to systems of limited quantity has stimulated the use of micro-coils (diameter <1 mm). One method recently proposed for the union of micro-coils with Magic Angle sample Spinning (MAS), involves the integration of a tuned micro-coil circuit within standard MAS rotors inductively coupled to the MAS probe coil, termed “magic-angle coil spinning” (MACS). The spinning of conductive materials results in the creation of circulating Foucault (eddy) currents, which generate heat. We report the first data acquired with a 4 mm MACS system and spinning up to 10 kHz. The need to spin faster necessitates improved methods to control heating. We propose an approximate solution to calculate the power losses (heat) from the eddy currents for a solenoidal coil, in order to provide insight into the functional dependencies of Foucault currents. Experimental tests of the dependencies reveal conditions which result in reduced sample heating and negligible temperature distributions over the sample volume.     

High-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy of protons with homonuclear dipolar decoupling schemes under magic-angle spinning

High-resolution NMR spectroscopy of ¹H spins in the solid state is normally rendered difficult due to the strong homonuclear ¹H–¹H dipolar couplings. Even under very high-speed magic-angle spinning (MAS) at ca. 60–70 kHz, these couplings are not completely removed. An appropriate radiofrequency pulse scheme is required to average out the homonuclear dipolar interactions in combination with MAS to get high-resolution ¹H NMR spectrum in solid state. Several schemes have been introduced in the recent past with a variety of applications also envisaged. Development of some of these schemes has been made possible with a clear understanding of the underlying spin physics based on bimodal Floquet theory. The utility of these high-resolution pulse schemes in combination with MAS has been demonstrated for spinning speeds of 10–65 kHz in a range of ¹H Larmor frequencies from 300 to 800 MHz.     

Study on ethyl groups with two different orientations in [N(C2H5)4]2CuBr4

The crystal structure and phase transition temperature of [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂CuBr₄ are studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); measurements revealed a tetragonal structure and the two phase transition temperatures T_C of 204 K and 255.5 K. The structural geometry near T_C is discussed in terms of the chemical shifts for ¹H magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C cross-polarization (CP)/MAS NMR. The two inequivalent ethyl groups are distinguishable by the ¹³C NMR spectrum. The molecular motions are discussed in terms of the spin–lattice relaxation times T_1ρ in the rotating frame for ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C CP/MAS NMR. The T_1ρ results reveal that the ethyl groups undergo tumbling motion, and furthermore that the ethyl groups are highly mobile.     

Cryogenic sample exchange NMR probe for magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization

We describe a cryogenic sample exchange system that dramatically improves the efficiency of magic angle spinning (MAS) dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments by reducing the time required to change samples and by improving long-term instrument stability. Changing samples in conventional cryogenic MAS DNP/NMR experiments involves warming the probe to room temperature, detaching all cryogenic, RF, and microwave connections, removing the probe from the magnet, replacing the sample, and reversing all the previous steps, with the entire cycle requiring a few hours. The sample exchange system described here—which relies on an eject pipe attached to the front of the MAS stator and a vacuum jacketed dewar with a bellowed hole—circumvents these procedures. To demonstrate the excellent sensitivity, resolution, and stability achieved with this quadruple resonance sample exchange probe, we have performed high precision distance measurements on the active site of the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin. We also include a spectrum of the tripeptide N-f-MLF-OH at 100 K which shows 30 Hz linewidths.     

A Comparison between REDOR and θ-REDOR for Measuring C–D Dipolar Interactions in Solids

¹³C-observe REDOR and θ-REDOR experiments for recovering the ¹³C–²D dipolar interaction during MAS NMR are compared. It is found that limited ²D RF power may severely compromise the performance of the REDOR experiment whereas the θ-REDOR experiment can be designed to work well. Results are presented for an isolated ¹³C–²D spin pair with a large deuterium quadrupolar coupling constant and for a ¹³C coupled to three methyl deuterons undergoing fast methyl group rotation.     

Recoupled Polarization-Transfer Methods for Solid-State H–C Heteronuclear Correlation in the Limit of Fast MAS

An in-depth account of the effects of homonuclear couplings and multiple heteronuclear couplings is given for a recently published technique for ¹H–¹³C dipolar correlation in solids under very fast MAS, where the heteronuclear dipolar coupling is recoupled by means of REDOR π-pulse trains. The method bears similarities to well-known solution-state NMR techniques, which form the framework of a heteronuclear multiple-quantum experiment. The so-called recoupled polarization-transfer (REPT) technique is versatile in that rotor-synchronized ¹H–¹³C shift correlation spectra can be recorded. In addition, weak heteronuclear dipolar coupling constants can be extracted by means of spinning sideband analysis in the indirect dimension of the experiment. These sidebands are generated by rotor encoding of the reconversion Hamiltonian. We present generalized variants of the initially described heteronuclear multiple-quantum correlation (HMQC) experiment, which are better suited for certain applications. Using these techniques, measurements on model compounds with ¹³C in natural abundance, as well as simulations, confirm the very weak effect of ¹H–¹H homonuclear couplings on the spectra recorded with spinning frequencies of 25–30 kHz. The effect of remote heteronuclear couplings on the spinning-sideband patterns of CH_n groups is discussed, and ¹³C spectral editing of rigid organic solids is shown to be practicable with these techniques.     

A general protocol for temperature calibration of MAS NMR probes at arbitrary spinning speeds

A protocol using (207)Pb NMR of solid lead nitrate was developed to determine the temperature of magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR probes over a range of nominal set temperatures and spinning speeds. Using BioMAS and FastMAS probes with typical sample spinning rates of 8 and 35 kHz, respectively, empirical equations were devised to predict the respective sample temperatures. These procedures provide a straightforward recipe for temperature calibration of any MAS probe.