Characterization of Surface Modified Silica Nanoparticles by 29Si Solid State NMR Spectroscopy

 Various aerosils surface modified with silane reagents were prepared and investigated by ²⁹Si solid state NMR spectroscopy. The mode of bonding onto the silanol surface (mono- or divalent) can be specified by comparison with chemical shifts from solution. A detailed analysis also leads to the detection of products formed via hydrosilylation reactions. A rough quantification of the surface loading can be obtained by a signal deconvolution process of the silanol resonances on the Aerosil surface.     

Characterization of superabsorbing polymers by NMR imaging

 The use of NMR imaging techniques for the characterization of superabsorbing polymers is explored. Spatial differences in the cross-link densities of polyacrylate-based superabsorbing particles are investigated by parameter-selective ¹H NMR imaging of samples swollen with water. Images of the transverse relaxation time and of the self-diffusion coefficient of the absorbed water provide valuable information on the local water mobility and, thus, indirectly also on the polymer. The time evolution of the swelling process was also studied by NMR images acquired after different swelling times. Moreover, using magic-angle-spinning imaging, the influence of mechanical load on the swollen particle was investigated by taking advantage of the centrifugal forces on the spinning sample. These experiments indicate the presence of two water components, one strongly adsorbed, while the other is relatively mobile. Received: 2 November 1999 Accepted: 17 December 1999     

Characterizations of Some N—Substituted—salicylhydrazide in Mixtures by NMR Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy

1 INTRODUCTION Metallacrown has emerged as inorganic host molecules. There has been considerable interest in metallacrown chemistry owing to its potential applications in chemically modified electrodes, anion-selective separation agents, liquid-crystal precursors and magnetic materials[1]. Multidentate ligands which can bridge two metal ions are used to synthesize metallacrowns. The cyclic repetition of the ligand bridging two metal ions generates the macrocyclic metal cluster. In the c…     

Single-Scan Diffusion-Ordered NMR Spectroscopy of SABRE-Hyperpolarized Mixtures

The analysis of complex mixtures of dissolved molecules is a major challenge, especially for systems that gradually evolve, e. g., in the course of a chemical reaction or in the case of chemical instability. 1D NMR is a fast and non-invasive method suitable for detailed molecular analysis, though of low sensitivity. Moreover, the spectral resolution of proton, the most commonly used and most sensitive stable isotope in NMR, is also quite limited. Spatially encoded (SPEN) experiments aim at creating in one acquisition a 2D data set by simultaneously performing different 1D sub-experiments on different slices of the NMR tube, at the price of an extra loss of sensitivity. Choosing translational diffusion coefficients as the additional dimension (the so-called DOSY approach) helps to recover proton spectra of each molecule in a mixture. The sensitivity limitation of SPEN NMR can, on the other hand, be addressed with hyperpolarization methods. Within hyperpolarization methods, signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE), based on parahydrogen, is the cheapest and the easiest one to set up, and allows multi-shot experiments. Here we show that the spectra of a mixture's components at millimolar concentration are resolved in few seconds by combining the SABRE, SPEN and DOSY concepts.     

Rapid Characterization of Molecular Diffusion by NMR Spectroscopy

An NMR‐based approach for rapid characterization of translational diffusion of molecules has been developed. Unlike the conventional method of acquiring a series of 2D ¹³C and ¹H spectra, the proposed approach involves a single 2D NMR spectrum, which can be acquired in minutes. Using this method, it was possible to detect the presence of intermediate oligomeric species of diphenylalanine in solution during the process of its self‐assembly to form nanotubular structures.     

Characterization of Ligand Binding by Saturation Transfer Difference NMR Spectroscopy

Fast identification of binding activity directly from mixtures of potential ligands is possible with the NMR method described, which is based on saturation transfer to molecules in direct contact to a protein. In addition, the ligand's binding epitope is easily identified. High sensitivity and ease of use are the principal advantages of this method. The picture shows the normal 1D NMR spectrum of a mixture and the spectrum obtained by applying the STD method, which exclusively shows signals from molecules with binding affinity.     

Online Reaction Monitoring with Fast and Flow-Compatible Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy

Online monitoring by flow NMR spectroscopy is a powerful approach to study chemical reactions and processes, which can provide mechanistic understanding, and drive optimisations. However, some of the most useful methods for mixture analysis and reaction monitoring are not directly applicable in flow conditions. This is the case of classic diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) methods, which can be used to separate the spectral information for mixture's components. We describe a fast and flow-compatible diffusion NMR experiment that makes it possible to collect accurate diffusion data for samples flowing at up to 3 mL/min. We use it to monitor the synthesis of a Schiff base with a flow-tube with a time resolution of approximately 2 minutes. The one-shot flow-compatible diffusion NMR described here open many avenues for reaction monitoring applications.     

A Study of b-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes with Progesterone and Hydrocortisone Using Rotating Frame Overhauser Spectroscopy

Summary.  Inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin with two steroid derivatives, progesterone (pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione) and hydrocortisone (11,17,21-trihydroxy-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione), were studied in the liquid state by NMR spectroscopy. The complex formation process was monitored by intermolecular dipolar interactions between ¹H signals in the hydrophobic β-cyclodextrin cavity (H-3 and H-5 of the α-glucose units) and the steroid moiety in ROESY spectra. The data revealed that progesterone is fully immersed in the β-cyclodextrin cavity; however, complete inclusion of the hydrocortisone molecule was prevented by the polar hydroxyl groups on its surface. Received April 26, 2001. Accepted (revised) May 18, 2001     

Accelerating Diffusion‐Ordered NMR Spectroscopy by Joint Sparse Sampling of Diffusion and Time Dimensions

Diffusion‐ordered multidimensional NMR spectroscopy is a valuable technique for the analysis of complex chemical mixtures. However, this method is very time‐consuming because of the costly sampling of a multidimensional signal. Various sparse sampling techniques have been proposed to accelerate such measurements, but they have always been limited to frequency dimensions of NMR spectra. It is now revealed how sparse sampling can be extended to diffusion dimensions.     

Improved compositional analysis of block copolymers using Diffusion Ordered NMR Spectroscopy

Block copolymers constitute a fascinating class of polymeric materials that are used in a broad range of applications. The performance of these materials is highly coupled to the physical and chemical properties of the constituting block copolymers. Traditionally, the composition of block copolymers is obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy on purified copolymer fractions. Specifically, the integrals of a properly selected set of ¹H resonances are compared and used to infer the number average molecular weight (M_n) of one of the block from the (typically known) M_n value of the other. As a corollary, compositional determinations achieved on imperfectly purified samples lead to serious errors, especially when isolation of the block copolymer from the initial macro initiator is tedious. This investigation shows that Diffusion Ordered NMR Spectroscopy (DOSY) can be used to provide a way to assess the advancement degree of the copolymerization purification/reaction, in order to optimize it and hence contribute to an improved compositional analysis of the resulting copolymer. To this purpose, a series of amphiphilic polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers, obtained by controlled free-radical nitroxide mediated polymerization, were analyzed and it is shown that, under proper experimental conditions, DOSY allows for an improved compositional analysis of these block copolymers.     

On-line detection of emulsion polymerization by solid-state NMR spectroscopy

 The on-line detection of emulsion polymerization processes by means of solid-state NMR spectroscopy is demonstrated for the first time using poly(butyl acrylate) as a model system. Relatively short time intervals are accessible via ¹H detection while the use of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy results in an increased spectral resolution. Details of sample preparation and experimental techniques are given, while remaining artifacts of the preliminary results will be addressed in further investigations. Received: 7 November 1997 Accepted: 5 January 1998     

NMR Spectroscopy of Paramagnetic Complexes

Serviceable NMR spectra can, with a few exceptions^[1,6], be recorded for paramagnetic complexes in solution. These spectra provide information about the structure of the complexes and the distribution of the unpaired electrons, and hence also about reactive centers in the molecule. The elucidation of intermolecular and intramolecular exchange phenomena, e.g. the determination of ligand exchange rate constants, the determination of rotation barriers, and the detection of contact complexes in solution, or even of occupation equilibria of the electrons, is possible in this way. It can be seen, therefore, that NMR studies on paramagnetic complexes can be a rich source of information.     

Shift Reagents in NMR Spectroscopy

The number of possible applications of NMR spectroscopy has rapidly increased during the past few years. New fields of applications have been opened by the development of supraconducting solenoids and various spin-decoupling techniques and by the method of “pulsed Fourier transform NMR-spectroscopy”. These methods originate mainly from progress in instrumentation. Recently, another “technique” has been introduced into NMR spectroscopy, which—principally on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic experience—is much less expensive but nevertheless useful. The basic principles, background, and most important applications of this method, known as the “NMR-shift-reagent technique”, form the subject of this paper.     

Modern NMR Spectroscopy of Organolithium Compounds

Modern methods of NMR spectroscopy, in particular the two-dimensional techniques, offer new chances for structure determinations in the field of organolithium compounds, where the combination of ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ⁶⁽⁷⁾Li-NMR spectroscopy is an especially useful feature. Chemical shift correlations which also include the lithium nuclei allow a complete assignment of the ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ⁶Li-NMR spectra and thereby a better characterization of the various aggregates and complexes present in solution. Spatial proximities of ⁶Li and ¹H can be detected by nuclear Overhauser experiments, and ⁶⁽⁷⁾Li-NMR exchange spectroscopy can provide new information with regard to the mechanisms and energetics of dynamic processes like aggregate interchange and complexation. After a short resumé of the experimental aspects of the NMR spectroscopy of organolithium compounds and a discussion of the NMR parameters of these systems, new experimental techniques are presented. Areas of application of these newly conceived one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments are illustrated with selected examples. The results show that even more detailed information about the structure and reactivity of organolithium compounds, which are so important for organic synthesis, can be expected in the future.     

Stable Monopyrrole Atropisomers

Summary.  Malonic ester derivatives of ethyl and methyl 3,5-dimethyl-4-(1′-iodoneopentyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate exhibit restricted rotation about the pyrrole C(4)–C(1′) bond due to the bulky 1′-tert-butyl and malonic ester groups and the ortho effect at C(4) of the sterically crowded 3,5-dimethylpyrrole. The malonates belong to a rare class of atropisomers with restricted rotation about an sp³–sp² C–C bond, and they undergo diastereomeric separation by TLC and crystallization: the diastereomers are stable in solution at room temperature. A crystal of one of the diastereomers, suitable for X-ray crystallography, gave the relative configuration of the chiral axis and stereogenic center at C(1′). Dynamic NMR studies of the purified diastereomers provide kinetic and thermodynamic parameters associated with the atropisomerism: ΔG ^‡ = 132–134 kJ/mol (∼32 kcal/mol) at 383 K in C₂D₂Cl₄ solvent. Corresponding author. E-mail: lightner@scs.unr.edu Received July 1, 2002; accepted July 8, 2002     

Solution-State 2D NMR Spectroscopy of Mixtures HyperpolarizedUsing Optically Polarized Crystals

The HYPNOESYS method (Hyperpolarized NOE System), which relies on the dissolution of optically polarized crystals, has recently emerged as a promising approach to enhance the sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy in the solution state. However, HYPNOESYS is a single-shot method that is not generally compatible with multidimensional NMR. Here we show that 2D NMR spectra can be obtained from HYPNOESYS-polarized samples, using single-scan acquisition methods. The approach is illustrated with a mixture of terpene molecules and a benchtop NMR spectrometer, paving the way to a sensitive, information-rich and affordable analytical method.     

Diffusion processes in mesoporous adsorbents probed by NMR

In this contribution, we review the results of our experimental studies on diffusion of guest molecules in mesoporous solids using pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR technique. Having unique potentials to non-invasively probe the microscopic diffusion processes in pores, this method may provide quintessential information on the character of molecular propagation for different pore morphologies and fluid phase state. In particular, different modes of molecular diffusion in partially filled pores may be separately probed and the overall diffusion process could be analyzed taking account of the details of the inter-phase coexistence. In addition to the dynamic properties, some information concerning the distribution of guest molecules within the porous matrix may also be obtained.     

Evaluation of the Anticorrosive Behaviour of Organic Coatings by Using a Variant of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

 Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been acknowledged as a modern and efficient method in the evaluation of the anticorrosive behaviour of coatings. However, difficulties in the interpretation of the complex experimental data present a significant drawback in the use of the method in field studies where quick results are required. The breakpoint frequency method is an extension of the basic EIS method, which allows rapid qualitative assessment of the condition of a coating. By the breakpoint frequency method, the behaviour of epoxy coatings containing various types of reinforcement and applied on steel specimens has been examined after long-term (up to 300 days) exposure to a corrosive environment. The parameter values obtained by the breakpoint frequency method, such as the delaminated area, have been compared with those obtained from fitting the experimental EIS data to a suitable equivalent circuit. These results have also been compared with those of the water permeability of free membranes and the diffusion coefficient determined by standard test methods (e.g. the cup test).