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.     

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.     

Sensitivity enhancement, assignment, and distance measurement in 13C solid-state NMR spectroscopy for paramagnetic systems under fast magic angle spinning

Despite success of previous studies, high-resolution solid-state NMR (SSNMR) of paramagnetic systems has been still largely unexplored because of limited sensitivity/resolution and difficulty in assignment due to large paramagnetic shifts. Recently, we demonstrated that an approach using very-fast magic angle spinning (VFMAS; spinning speed 20kHz) enhances resolution/sensitivity in (13)C SSNMR for paramagnetic complexes [Y. Ishii, S. Chimon, N.P. Wickramasinghe, A new approach in 1D and 2D (13)C high resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy of paramagnetic organometallic complexes by very fast magic-angle spinning, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125 (2003) 3438-3439]. In this study, we present a new strategy for sensitivity enhancement, signal assignment, and distance measurement in (13)C SSNMR under VFMAS for unlabeled paramagnetic complexes using recoupling-based polarization transfer. As a robust alternative of cross-polarization (CP), rapid application of recoupling-based polarization transfer under VFMAS is proposed. In the present approach, a dipolar-based analog of INEPT (dipolar INEPT) methods is used for polarization transfer and a (13)C signal is observed under VFMAS without (1)H decoupling. The resulting low duty factor permits rapid signal accumulation without probe arcing at recycle times ( approximately 3 ms/scan) matched to short (1)H T(1) values of small paramagnetic systems ( approximately 1 ms). Experiments on Cu(dl-Ala)(2) showed that the fast repetition approach under VFMAS provided sensitivity enhancement by a factor of 8-66 for a given sample, compared with the (13)C MAS spectrum under moderate MAS at 5kHz. The applicability of this approach was also demonstrated for a more challenging system, Mn(acac)(3), for which (13)C and (1)H paramagnetic shift dispersions reach 1500 and 700 ppm, respectively. It was shown that effective-evolution-time dependence of transferred signals in dipolar INEPT permitted one to distinguish (13)CH, (13)CH(2), (13)CH(3), (13)CO2- groups in 1D experiments for Cu(DL-Ala)(2) and Cu(Gly)(2). Applications of this technique to 2D (13)C/(1)H correlation NMR under VFMAS yielded reliable assignments of (1)H resonances as well as (13)C resonances for Cu(DL-Ala)(2) and Mn(acac)(3). Quantitative analysis of cross-peak intensities in 2D (13)C/(1)H correlation NMR spectra of Cu(DL-Ala)(2) provided distance information between non-bonded (13)C-(1)H pairs in the paramagnetic system.     

13C-NMR Assignments for Methyls and Quaternary Carbons of the Limonoid Obacunone

The high field ¹H and ¹³C resonances of obacunone were established by a series of I D and 2D NMR experiments. The ¹³C-NMR signals of the five tertiary methyl groups and all quatenary carbons were unambiguously assigned. The results confirm the stereochemical assignments at all stereogenic centres.     

Assignment of 13C Resonances in the Phencyclone-Norbornadiene Adduct Via 2D NMR. 13C Evidence for Hindered Rotation of Unsubstituted Bridgehead Phenyl Rings

¹³C NMR chemical shift assignments were obtained for the Diels-Alder adduct of phencyclone with norbornadiene in CD₂Cl₂ and in CDCl₃ solution. The ¹³C spectrum at 50.3 MHz, as well as the ¹H spectrum at 200.1 MHz, show evidence for hindered rotation of the two unsubstituted bridgehead phenyl rings of the adduct at ambient temperatures. In CD₂Cl₂ solution, all 19 of the unique ¹³C nuclei of this molecule give rise to individual ¹³C resonances. The ¹H assignments which were made earlier, together with one-bond and long-range 2D heteronuclear correlation experiments, allowed the assignment of all ¹³C chemical shifts in the molecule.     

Solid State C NMR of 30-Crown-10 Ether and 30-Crown-10.4H2O

The ¹³C NMR solution spectra of 30-crown-10 ether and its tetrahydrate show only one resonance at all accessible temperatures. In contrast, the solid state ¹³C NMR spectrum of the 30-crown-10.4H₂O shows two resonances in the ratio of 4:1, separated by 1.2 ppm. In the case of 30-crown-10 itself, six resolvable ¹³C resonances in the ratio of 4:1:1:2:1:1 are observed in the solid with an overall chemical shift dispersion of 5 ppm. The remarkably different spectral behavior of these two systems in the solid state is discussed in terms of the torsional environments of the crystallographically unique carbons and the results of GIAO calculations of isotropic ¹³C shieldings for simpler model compounds. Results of dipolar dephased ¹³C CPMAS spectra indicate that 30-crown-10 does not undergo a large amplitude molecular motion, in contrast to earlier results for 18-crown-6. Only a small amount of residual intensity is found in the dipolar dephased spectrum of 30-crown-10.4H₂O, indicating that it also is relatively rigid in the solid.     

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).     

Determination of Multiple φ-Torsion Angles in Proteins by Selective and Extensive C Labeling and Two-Dimensional Solid-State NMR

We describe an approach to efficiently determine the backbone conformation of solid proteins that utilizes selective and extensive ¹³C labeling in conjunction with two-dimensional magic-angle-spinning NMR. The selective ¹³C labeling approach aims to reduce line broadening and other multispin complications encountered in solid-state NMR of uniformly labeled proteins while still enhancing the sensitivity of NMR spectra. It is achieved by using specifically labeled glucose or glycerol as the sole carbon source in the protein expression medium. For amino acids synthesized in the linear part of the biosynthetic pathways, [1-¹³C]glucose preferentially labels the ends of the side chains, while [2-¹³C]glycerol labels the C^α of these residues. Amino acids produced from the citric-acid cycle are labeled in a more complex manner. Information on the secondary structure of such a labeled protein was obtained by measuring multiple backbone torsion angles φ simultaneously, using an isotropic–anisotropic 2D correlation technique, the HNCH experiment. Initial experiments for resonance assignment of a selectively ¹³C labeled protein were performed using ¹⁵N–¹³C 2D correlation spectroscopy. From the time dependence of the ¹⁵N–¹³C dipolar coherence transfer, both intraresidue and interresidue connectivities can be observed, thus yielding partial sequential assignment. We demonstrate the selective ¹³C labeling and these 2D NMR experiments on a 8.5-kDa model protein, ubiquitin. This isotope-edited NMR approach is expected to facilitate the structure determination of proteins in the solid state.     

NMR Analysis of a Complex Spin System from a Siruo-Chamigrene

The compound 2,10-dibromo-3-chloro-8-hydroxy-β-chamigrene was analysed in detail by NMR Spectroscopy. the complete assignment of the signals in the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and the determination of the relative configurations were achieved by 2D NMR techniques, AM1 data and ¹H spectrum simulation. Comparisons of the results with related spiro chamigrene systems are also presented.     

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°.     

19F-decoupling of half-integer spin quadrupolar nuclei in solid-state NMR: application of frequency-swept decoupling methods

In solid-state NMR studies of minerals and ion conductors, quadrupolar nuclei like ⁷Li, ²³Na or ¹³³Cs are frequently situated in close proximity to fluorine, so that application of ¹⁹F decoupling is beneficial for spectral resolution. Here, we compare the decoupling efficiency of various multi-pulse decoupling sequences by acquiring ¹⁹F-decoupled ²³Na-NMR spectra of cryolite (Na₃AlF₆). Whereas the MAS spectrum is only marginally affected by application of ¹⁹F decoupling, the 3Q-filtered ²³Na signal is very sensitive to it, as the de-phasing caused by the dipolar interaction between sodium and fluorine is three-fold magnified. Experimentally, we find that at moderate MAS speeds, the decoupling efficiencies of the frequency-swept decoupling schemes SW_f-TPPM and SW_f-SPINAL are significantly better than the conventional TPPM and SPINAL sequences. The frequency-swept sequences are therefore the methods of choice for efficient decoupling of quadrupolar nuclei with half-integer spin from fluorine.     

2D CP/MASC Isotropic Chemical Shift Correlation Established byH Spin Diffusion

A new 2D solid-state CP/MAS¹³C NMR exchange experiment for through-space isotropic chemical shift correlation is proposed and demonstrated. Through-space correlation is established via a second cross polarization from¹³C to¹H and subsequent¹H spin diffusion. A third cross polarization results in the final¹³C–¹³C isotropic chemical shift correlation. The¹H spin diffusion time is a variable parameter allowing different mean square magnetization displacements to be probed. Experimental results on mixtures of differently¹³C-labeled alanine and polyethylene indicate that this site-selective 2D technique can be used to characterize domain sizes and proximities over a wide range of length scales (1–200 nm) in solids such as polymers or biological materials.     

A solid-state NMR application of the anomeric effect in carbohydrates: galactosamine, glucosamine, and N-acetyl-glucosamine

Simple 2D 13C/15N heteronuclear correlation solid-state NMR spectroscopy was implemented to resolve the 15N resonances of the alpha and beta anomers of three amino monosaccharides: galactosamine (GalN), glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN), and N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) labeled specifically with 13C1/15N spin pairs. Although the 15N resonances could not be distinguished in normal 1D spectra, they were well resolved in 2D double CP/MAS correlation spectra by taking advantage of the 13C spectral resolution. The alpha and beta resonances shifted apart by 3-5 ppm in their 13C chemical shifts, and differed by 1-2 ppm in the extended 15N dimension. Aside from this, the detection of other 13C/15N correlations over short distances was also achieved arising from the C2, C3 and CO carbons present in natural abundance. 2D double CP/MAS chemical shift correlation NMR spectroscopy is a simple and powerful technique to characterize the anomeric effect of amino monosaccharides. Applications of the 2D method reveal well-resolved 15N and 13C chemical shifts might be useful for structural determination on carbohydrates of biological significance, such as glycopeptide or glycolipids.     

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.     

Sample Optimization and Identification of Signal Patterns of Amino Acid Side Chains in 2D RFDR Spectra of the α-Spectrin SH3 Domain

Future structural investigations of proteins by solid-state CPMAS NMR will rely on uniformly labeled protein samples showing spectra with an excellent resolution. NMR samples of the solid α-spectrin SH3 domain were generated in four different ways, and their ¹³C CPMAS spectra were compared. The spectrum of a [u-¹³C, ¹⁵N]-labeled sample generated by precipitation shows very narrow ¹³C signals and resolved scalar carbon–carbon couplings. Linewidths of 16–19 Hz were found for the three alanine C^β signals of a selectively labeled [70% 3-¹³C]alanine-enriched SH3 sample. The signal pattern of the isoleucine, of all prolines, valines, alanines, and serines, and of three of the four threonines were identified in 2D ¹³C–¹³C RFDR spectra of the [u-¹³C,¹⁵N]-labeled SH3 sample. A comparison of the ¹³C chemical shifts of the found signal patterns with the ¹³C assignment obtained in solution shows an intriguing match.     

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.     

Enhancing the properties of wood through chemical modification with palmitoyl chloride

Hevea brassiliensis (rubber wood) was esterified with palmitoyl chloride, prepared from the reaction of palmitic acid with thionyl chloride. The weight gain of the wood increased with increasing reaction time and temperature, the esterified wood were evaluated for their photostability and dimensional stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state cross-polarization/magic angle spinning ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CP/MAS ¹³C NMR) were used to elucidate the characteristics of wood after esterification. The dimensional stability and photostability of the wood was improved by esterification. This is an important observation since chemical modification of wood with fatty acid chlorides has been found to induce thermo-plasticity into wood.     

Spectral Data of Chemical Modification Products of Costunolide

Epoxidation of costunolide (1) yielded parthenolide (3), 1, 10-epoxycostunolide (4), and the cyclization products of 4, santamarin (5), reynosin (6), magnolialide (7) and a 1, 4-epoxyeudesmanolide (8). Reduction of santamarin (5) with sodium borohydride afforded 11, 13-dihydrosantamarin (9) and an eudesmen-triol (10). Reduction of reynosin (6) provided 11, 13-dihydroreynosin (11) and the two eudesman-triols 12 and 13. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by ID and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral methods.     

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.     

Determination of the Stereochemistry of Substituted 5-Methylenehydantoins and Thiohydantoins by 13C NMR and Homonuclear NOE Experiments

Basically the aim of this work is to define the accurate configuration of the exocyclic double bond of substituted 5-methylenehydantoins and thiohydantoins which have been conceived as potential Aldose Reductase inhibitors. A previsional survey based upon the chemical shifts analysis from ¹H and decoupled ¹³C NMR spectra discloses, for a part of the family of compounds, the assignment of the Zconfiguration for unsubstituted (2,3) and N-3 substituted (6,7,9) derivatives, and the E-configuration for the N-1 substituted (8,11) ones. The qualitative study with Homonuclear NOE (8,11) and the coupling constant measuring ^{3 J}C4-C=C-H6 from coupled ¹³C NMR (1–11), lead to the assignment of the accurate configuration of the whole family's compounds in agreement with the previsional study.