Non-Kramers ENDOR and ESEEM of the S = 2 Ferrous Ion of [Fe(II)EDTA]

We report here the first non-Kramers (NK) ESEEM and ENDOR study of a mononuclear NK center, presenting extensive parallel-mode ESEEM and ENDOR measurements on the S_t = 2 ferrous center of [Fe(II)ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetato]²⁻; [Fe(II)EDTA)]²⁻. The results disclose an anomalous equivalence of the experimental patterns produced by the two techniques. A simple theoretical treatment of the frequency-domain patterns expected for NK-ESEEM and NK-ENDOR rationalizes this correspondence and further suggests that the very observation of NK-ENDOR is the result of an unprecedentedly large hyperfine enhancement effect. The mixed nitrogen–carboxylato oxygen coordination of [Fe(II)EDTA]²⁻ models that of the protein-bound diiron centers, although with a higher coordination number. Analysis of the NK-ESEEM measurements yields the quadrupole parameters for the ¹⁴N ligands of [Fe(II)EDTA]²⁻, K = 1.16(1) MHz, 0 ≤ η ≤ 0.05, and the analysis indicates that the electronic zero-field splitting tetragonal axis lies along the N–N direction.     

The Microwave Spectrum of m-Tolunitrile: Methyl Internal Rotation and N Nuclear Quadrupole Coupling

The microwave spectrum of m-tolunitrile (3-methylbenzonitrile, m-C₆H₄CH₃CN) has been investigated in the frequency range from 1 to 4 and 8 to 26.5 GHz. The spectra in the two lowest states of internal methyl rotation (m = 0, ±1) were recorded by means of pulsed molecular beam Fourier transform microwave (MB-FTMW) spectrometers. The interpretation of the spectra was based on an asymmetric frame–symmetric top Hamiltonian with inclusion of centrifugal distortion terms and first-order contributions from ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole coupling. A least-squares analysis yielded the rotational constants A = 3295.9103(10) MHz, B = 1199.1188(2) MHz, C = 883.9223(1) MHz, all elements of the nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor χ_aa = −3.626(1) MHz, χ_bb = 1.684(1) MHz, χ_cc = 1.943(1) MHz, and χ_ab = −1.870(3) MHz, as well as the threefold barrier to internal rotation, V₃ = 14.2 cm⁻¹, and the angle between the internal rotor axis and the principal moment of inertia a axis, θ = 42.66°, using fixed values for the sixfold barrier term V₆ (−11 cm⁻¹) and the moment of inertia of the methyl top I_α (3.16 u Ų).     

Molecular structure, nuclear quadrupole coupling constant and dipole moment of nitrogen trichloride from microwave spectroscopy

The rotational constants of four isotopic species of nitrogen trichloride have been obtained from transitions in the millimeter region. Two r_s structures have been obtained with the following average values of the parameters. rN−C1=1.7535 ± 0.0020 A.The Stark effect of the J = 3 ← 2 transition was analyzed to obtaine the value 0.39 ± 0.01 D for the dipole moment of NCl₃. The measurement of the separation of the two strongest hyperfine components of the J = 2 ← 1 transition yielded the value of −108 ± 3 MHz for the N---Cl bond axis quadrupole coupling constant.     

E.S.R. study of copper and silver N,N-dialkyldiselenocarbamates

Single-crystal E.S.R. studies of Cu(II) diethyldiselenocarbamate and Cu(II) diethyldithiocarbamate, diluted in the corresponding Zn(II) complexes, are reported. The pure copper and zinc crystals consist of dimeric units. When copper is built into the zinc lattice, dimers are formed with one copper and one zinc atom. The g-tensor, the metal hyperfine and quadrupole coupling tensors and also the hyperfine coupling tensors of the ligand selenium atoms have been obtained. Especially, from the measured selenium hyperfine couplings, it could be concluded that the guest molecules do not accept the structure of the host crystal, but have a structure similar to that of the pure copper compound. This is in contrast to the situation in systems where monomeric host crystals (e.g. nickel (II) complexes) are used and where it is found that the guest molecules do accept the structure of the host. As in the monomeric diselenocarbamate systems, in these dimers the principal axes of the g and metal hyperfine coupling tensor do not coincide. In the dimers a rotation of the hyperfine principal axes has taken place in the plane of the molecule, while a rotation of the g-tensor axes in a plane perpendicular to the molecule is typical for the monomeric systems.     

E.S.R. Study of copper and silver N,N-dialkyldiselenocarbamates

Single crystal E.S.R. studies of Cu(II) and Ag(II) dialkyldiselenocarbamates, diluted in the corresponding Ni(II) complexes, are reported. A method has been developed which removes the necessity to measure the spectra on the same single crystal and in three mutually orthogonal planes. Equations have been derived for the resonance fields and the transition probabilities, taking into account the full spin hamiltonian and without assuming coinciding tensor axes. Applying these equations the g tensor and the metal hyperfine and quadrupole coupling tensors are obtained in high precision. In contrast to the situation in the corresponding dithiocarbamates, it was found for all diselenocarbamates studied that the axes of the g and metal hyperfine tensor do not coincide and that the relative orientation depends on the central metal ion and on the molecular symmetry. The highest g value was always found in the molecular plane, whereas in the dithiocarbamates the highest value is found perpendicular to the molecular plane. The spectra reveal the presence of two sets of two equivalent Se atoms, so that the molecule has inversion symmetry. Especially from the measured ⁷⁷Se hyperfine splittings it could be concluded that the built in guest molecule accepts the structure of the host crystal. Also measurements are reported on powders, glasses and liquid solutions. Evidence has been obtained that in the latter two media the g and metal hyperfine principal axes coincide.     

Pulsed ESR investigations of anisotropic interactions in M@C82 (M=Sc,Y,La)

82 , Y@C₈₂, and La@C₈₂ in frozen solutions. We were able to determine the g tensors of these molecules by analysing magnetic field spectra at X-band (9.5 GHz) and W-band (94 GHz) frequencies. Moreover, in Y@C₈₂ we have investigated the hyperfine interaction of the ⁸⁹Y nuclear spin (I=1/2) with the electron spin on the C₈₂ cage. The principal values of the hyperfine tensor A and the relative orientation of g and A tensors were determined by applying three- and four-pulse electron spin echo envelope modulation techniques (ESEEM). Received: 3 September 1997/Accepted: 10 November 1997     

A systematic approach for studying Cu imidazole interactions using multi-frequency ESEEM: Application to Cu(II)-bleomycin and model systems

Many copper containing proteins exhibit well defined ESEEM signals detected at X-band and C-band. In these systems the Cu(II) ion is coordinated to one or several histidine residues. The main sharp features measured in the ESEEM spectra originate from the interaction of the unpaired electron with the remote nitrogen nucleus of the histidine ring. The relative intensities of these features contain information about the orientation of the NQI-tensor in the molecular axis frame as defined by the principal axes of theg-matrix. This information can be related to the orientation of the imidazole ring in the complex. We present a systematic approach to determine the constraints of the Euler angles, α, β, ψ of the NQI-tensor in theg-matrix principal axis system. The first step is to analyze the intensity ratios of the quadrupole peaks and the line shape of the double quantum feature measured on the canonical positions in the EPR spectrum. This will lead to a constraint in the angles (α, β) as well as the effective hyperfine interaction. This information is further refined using spectra on other orientation selective positions. We have applied this method to Cu(II)-Bleomycin and two model compounds: Cu(II)-pypep and Cu(II)-PMA of which we have determined the principal quadrupole values and the orientation of the quadrupole tensor with respect to theg-matrix axis system.     

Hyperfine Interaction Tensors of 13C Nuclei for Ring Carbons of Ubisemiquinone-10 Hydrogen Bonded in Alcohol Solvents

The anion radicals of ubiquinones-10 ¹³C chemically labeled at the C₅ or C₆ ring positions in alcohol have been studied by 1D and 2D ESEEM to define the hyperfine interaction tensors with the ¹³C nuclei. Analysis of the cross-peak line shapes and simulations of the spectra allowed us to conclude that the hyperfine tensors are characterized by an anisotropic component T ~6 MHz and an isotropic coupling a ~?3 MHz with support from DFT calculations. However, these values were found to be inconsistent with the shift of the sum combination harmonic in the four-pulse ESEEM spectra. Simulations resolve this apparent discrepancy by showing that the shift of the sum combination to lower frequency and its broadening can be accounted for by a distribution of the hyperfine couplings. A spread of the methoxy group conformations, as supported by previous experimental observations, is suggested as the mechanism influencing the distribution of the hyperfine couplings for the ring carbons.     

EPR and HYSCORE investigation of the electronic structure of the model complex Mn(imidazole)6: exploring Mn(II)-imidazole binding using single crystals

The electronic structure of the Mn(II)-imidazole binding was studied by EPR spectroscopy using the model complex Mn(Im)(6) diluted in a single crystal of Zn(Im)(6)Cl(2).4(H(2)O). The second rank zero-field splitting (ZFS) tensor (D tensor) of the two sites, a and b, present in the crystal was determined by measuring the orientation patterns of the echo-detected EPR spectra in three different planes at 10K (D(a)=-106, D(b)=-118, E(a)=-17, E(b)=-22x10(-4)cm(-1). Euler angles with respect to the crystal habitus: alpha(a)=13 degrees , beta(a)=76 degrees , gamma(a)=108.5 degrees , alpha(b)=14 degrees , beta(b)=73.5 degrees , gamma(b)=103.5 degrees ). The contribution of cubic ZFS terms to the spectrum allowed us to determine the orientation of the N-Mn-N directions of the complex as well (Euler angles in the D tensor reference frame alpha=100 degrees , beta=23 degrees , gamma=0 degrees , both centers having the same orientation). The hyperfine interactions with (14)N were explored by HYSCORE spectroscopy. The correlation patterns and modulation amplitudes in the 2D experiments were studied for different electron spin transitions and orientations of the crystal. Signals of three different pairs of nitrogens were found. The results were analyzed considering that the N-Mn binding directions are principal directions of the hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole tensor of (14)N. All three pairs of nitrogens were found to be almost equivalent with an isotropic contribution of A(iso) approximately 3.2MHz and an almost axial anisotropic coupling of 2T approximately 1.1MHz along the N-Mn bonding direction. The nuclear quadrupole principal values are 1.5MHz along the bonding direction, -0.6MHz in the direction perpendicular to the imidazole plane, and -0.9MHz in the direction perpendicular to both.     

N Chemical Shift Tensor Magnitude and Orientation in the Molecular Frame of Uracil Determined via MAS NMR

The potential of heteronuclear MAS NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of ¹⁵N chemical shift (CS) tensors in multiply labeled systems has been illustrated, in one of the first studies of this type, by a measurement of the chemical shift tensor magnitude and orientation in the molecular frame for the two ¹⁵N sites of uracil. Employing polycrystalline samples of ¹⁵N₂ and 2-¹³C,¹⁵N₂-labeled uracil, we have measured, via ¹⁵N–¹³C REDOR and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar-shift experiments, the polar and azimuthal angles (θ, ψ) of orientation of the ¹⁵N–¹³C and ¹⁵N–¹H dipolar vectors in the ¹⁵N CS tensor frame. The (θ_NC, ψ_NC) angles are determined to be (92 ± 10°, 100 ± 5°) and (132 ± 3°, 88 ± 10°) for the N1 and N3 sites, respectively. Similarly, (θ_NH, ψ_NH) are found to be (15 ± 5°, −80 ± 10°) and (15 ± 5°, 90 ± 10°) for the N1 and N3 sites, respectively. These results obtained based only on MAS NMR measurements have been compared with the data reported in the literature.     

Al satellite transition spectroscopy (SATRAS) of polycrystalline aluminium borate 9Al2O3 · 2B2O3

²⁷Al NMR spectra of polycrystalline aluminium borate 9Al₂O₃ · 2B₂O₃ have been measured at 104, 130 and 156 MHz. The parameters of the quadrupole interaction and the isotropic chemical shifts have been obtained by fitting the CT/MAS pattern and consideration of the inner satellite transitions m = 3/2 ↔ 1/2 and m = −1/2 ↔ −3/2. The gain in spectral resolution concerned with the observation of the MAS lines of the inner satellites leads to complete separation of the signals of AlO₆, AlO₅ and AlO₄ polyhedra. Also signals of structural groups of one and the same coordination number can be distinguished. Experimental and theoretical lineshape calculations are compared.     

The hyperfine coupling tensors of muonated radicals in single‐crystal benzophenone

The hyperfine coupling tensors of muonated radicals in a large single crystal of benzophenone have been determined by measuring the hyperfine couplings of the radicals as the crystal was rotated about three orthogonal axes. Signals from four radicals were observed, corresponding to the four molecules per unit cell in the crystal. Due to an ambiguity in the data we are unable to discriminate between two similar hyperfine coupling tensors. Both lead to an isotropic hyperfine coupling of \sim32 MHz, contrasting with the solution value of 42 MHz obtained earlier in diethyl ether. The anisotropic components of the tensor are relatively large, at approximately -15 MHz, -6 MHz and 21 MHz, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Two-dimensional hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy: powder features for S=1/2, I=1

The lineshapes of two-dimensional magnetic resonance spectra of disordered or partially ordered solids are dominated by ridges of singularities in the frequency plane. The positions of these ridges are described by a branch of mathematics known as catastrophe theory concerning the mapping of one 2D surface onto another. We systematically consider the characteristics of HYSCORE spectra for paramagnetic centers having electron spin S=1/2 and nuclear spin I=1 in terms of singularities using an exact solution of the nuclear spin Hamiltonian. The lineshape characteristics are considered for several general cases: zero nuclear quadrupole coupling; isotropic hyperfine but arbitrary nuclear quadrupole couplings; coincident principal axes for the nuclear hyperfine and quadrupole tensors; and the general case of arbitrary nuclear quadrupole and hyperfine tensors. The patterns of singularities in the HYSCORE spectra are described for each case.     

Measurement of the WWγ cross section and direct limits on anomalous quartic gauge boson couplings at LEP

The process e⁺e⁻→W⁺W⁻γ is analysed using the data collected with the L3 detector at LEP at a centre-of-mass energy of 188.6 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 176.8 pb⁻¹. Based on a sample of 42 selected W⁺W⁻ candidates containing an isolated hard photon, the W⁺W⁻γ cross section, defined within phase-space cuts, is measured to be: σ_WWγ=290±80±16 fb, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. Including the process , limits are derived on anomalous contributions to the Standard Model quartic vertices W⁺W⁻γγ and W⁺W⁻Zγ at 95% CL: −0.043 GeV⁻²<a₀/Λ²<0.043 GeV⁻², −0.08 GeV⁻²<a_c/Λ²<0.13 GeV⁻², −0.41 GeV⁻²<a_n/Λ²<0.37 GeV⁻².     

OPTESIM, a versatile toolbox for numerical simulation of electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) that features hybrid optimization and statistical assessment of parameters

Electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) is a technique of pulsed-electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The analyis of ESEEM data to extract information about the nuclear and electronic structure of a disordered (powder) paramagnetic system requires accurate and efficient numerical simulations. A single coupled nucleus of known nuclear g value (g_N) and spin I = 1 can have up to eight adjustable parameters in the nuclear part of the spin Hamiltonian. We have developed OPTESIM, an ESEEM simulation toolbox, for automated numerical simulation of powder two- and three-pulse one-dimensional ESEEM for arbitrary number (N) and type (I, g_N) of coupled nuclei, and arbitrary mutual orientations of the hyperfine tensor principal axis systems for N > 1. OPTESIM is based in the Matlab environment, and includes the following features: (1) a fast algorithm for translation of the spin Hamiltonian into simulated ESEEM, (2) different optimization methods that can be hybridized to achieve an efficient coarse-to-fine grained search of the parameter space and convergence to a global minimum, (3) statistical analysis of the simulation parameters, which allows the identification of simultaneous confidence regions at specific confidence levels. OPTESIM also includes a geometry-preserving spherical averaging algorithm as default for N > 1, and global optimization over multiple experimental conditions, such as the dephasing time (τ) for three-pulse ESEEM, and external magnetic field values. Application examples for simulation of ¹⁴N coupling (N = 1, N = 2) in biological and chemical model paramagnets are included. Automated, optimized simulations by using OPTESIM lead to a convergence on dramatically shorter time scales, relative to manual simulations.     

Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of the V KA center in CaF2:Na

An EPR study of the self-trapped hole center (V _KA center) in Na-doped single-crystal CaF₂ is reported. A five-component hyperfine-interaction tensor was used for the first time to describe EPR spectra adequately. The parameters of the electron spin Hamiltonian of the V _KA center, the tensors of ligand hyperfine interaction with all nearest-neighbor nuclei, and constants of quadrupole interaction with the Na nucleus have been determined. The structure of the center has been unambiguously established from the results obtained, and the mechanisms of its formation are discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1619–1622 (September 1998)     

Measurement of the mass of the Λb baryon

In a data sample of four million hadronic Z decays collected with the ALEPH detector at LEP, four Λ_b baryon candidates are exclusively reconstructed in the Λ_b → Λ_c⁺π⁻ channel, with the Λ_c⁺ decaying into pK⁻π⁺, , or Λπ⁺π⁺π⁻. The probability of the observed signal to be due to a background fluctuation is estimated to be 4.2 × 10⁻⁴. The mass of the Λ_b is measured to be 5614±21 (stat.) ± 4 (syst.) MeV/c².     

Observation of the π(1800) and (1880) mesons in decay

A partial-wave analysis of the reaction π⁻p→ηηπ⁻p at 18 GeV/c has been performed on a data sample of approximately 4000 events obtained by Brookhaven experiment E852. The J^PC=0⁻⁺π(1800) state is observed in the a₀(980)η and f₀(1500)π decay modes. It has a mass of 1876±18±16 MeV/c² and a width of 221±26±38 MeV/c². The J^PC=2⁻⁺π₂(1880) meson is observed decaying through a₂(1320)η. It has a mass of 1929±24±18 MeV/c² and a width of 323±87±43 MeV/c². Both states are potential candidates for non-exotic hybrid mesons.     

A new level at 192.5 keV in Ge

In the experiments on ⁷⁴Ge(d, pγ)⁷⁵Ge, a 52.5±0.1 keV γ-ray was found in ⁷⁵Ge with a half-life of 216±5 ns. From the analysis of the γ-ray spectra the conversion coefficient of the 52.5 keV γ-ray was determined. Then, a new level of is confirmed to exist at 192.5 keV. The reduced transition probabilities of the 52.5 keV transition are deduced to be (6.9^+5.6 _−2.1) × 10⁻⁵ for B(M1) and 31⁺³ ₋₂ for B(E2) in Weisskopf units.     

Elementary reactions of formyl (HCO) radical studied by laser photolysis—transient absorption spectroscopy

Several elementary reactions of formyl radical of combustion importance were studied using pulsed laser photolysis coupled to transient UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy: HCO → H + CO (1), HCO + HCO → products (2), and HCO + CH₃ → products (3). One-pass UV absorption, multi-pass UV absorption as well as cavity ring-down spectroscopy in the red spectral region were used to monitor temporal profiles of HCO radical. Reaction (1) was studied over the buffer gas (He) pressure range 0.8–100 bar and the temperature range 498–769 K. Reactions (2a), (2b), (2c), (3a) and (3b) as well as the UV absorption spectrum of HCO, were studied at 298 and 588 K, and the buffer gas (He) pressure of 1 bar. Pulsed laser photolysis (308, 320, and 193 nm) of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and acetone was used to prepare mixtures of free radicals. The second-order rate constant of reaction (1) obtained from the data at 1 bar is: k₁(He) = (0.8 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹⁰exp(−(66.0 ± 3.4) kJ mol⁻¹/RT) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The HCO dissociation rate constants measured in this work are lower than those reported in the previous direct work. The difference is a factor of 2.2 at the highest temperature of the experiments and a factor of 3.5 at the low end. The experimental data indicate pressure dependence of the rate constant of dissociation of formyl radical 1, which was attributed to the early pressure fall-off expected based on the theory of isolated resonances. The UV absorption spectrum of HCO was revised. The maximum absorption cross-section of HCO is (7.3 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm² molecule⁻¹ at 230 nm (temperature independent within the experimental error). The measured rate constants for reactions (2a), (2b), (2c), (3a) and (3b) are: k₂ = (3.6 ± 0.8) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ (298 K); k₃ = (9.3 ± 2.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹(298 and 588 K).