Carbon-13 spin–lattice relaxation in strongly associated molecules: Carboxylic acids

¹³C spin–lattice relaxation times determined for the protonated carbons of carboxylic acids and methyl esters give indications of solution dimerization with the free acids. Since isopthalic and fumaric acids have two carboxyl functions they are able to polymerize in solution. Unlike the case for molecular aggregation due to weak hydrogen bonding in solution (e.g. alcohols, phenols), the ¹³C T₁ values of mono carboxylic acids are not significantly affected by dilution to c. 10^?2 M. Variable temperature T₁ measurements of both the mono and dibasic acids gave activation energies for molecular reorientation of the order of 2 kcal mol^?1, considerably lower than E_a for hydrogen bonded alcohols and comparable with E_a for the unassociated methyl esters of propionic and benzoic acids.     

Studies on the phase structure of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymers by solid‐state 1H and 13C NMR

The phase structure of a series of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymers has been investigated by solid‐state wide‐line ¹H NMR and solid‐state high‐resolution ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Not only the degree of crystallinity but the relative contents of the monoclinic and orthorhombic crystals within the crystalline region varied with the vinyl acetate (VA) content. Biexponential ¹³C NMR spin–lattice relaxation behavior was observed for the crystalline region of all samples. The component with longer ¹³C NMR spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) was attributed to the internal part of the crystalline region, whereas the component with shorter ¹³C NMR T₁ to the mobile crystalline component was located between the noncrystalline region and the internal part of the crystalline region. The content of the mobile crystalline component relative to the internal part of the crystalline region increased with the VA content, showing that the ¹³C NMR spin–lattice relaxation behavior is closely related to the crystalline structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 2199–2207, 2002     

Solid‐state NMR analyses of the crystalline–noncrystalline structure and its thermal changes for ethylene ionomers

The crystalline–noncrystalline structure and its structural changes from thermal treatments for ethylene ionomers have been investigated with solid‐state ¹³C and ²³Na NMR spectroscopy. ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation time (T_1C) measurements reveal that as‐received ethylene ionomers have much enhanced molecular mobility in the crystalline region in comparison with conventional polyethylene samples. By appropriate annealing, however, polyethylene‐like morphological features reflecting T_1C behavior can also be observed. ¹³C spin–spin relaxation time (T_2C) measurements for the noncrystalline region reveal the existence of two components with different T_2C values, and these two components have been assigned to the crystalline–amorphous interfacial and rubbery–amorphous components. These results indicate that the structure of the major part of the noncrystalline region in the ethylene ionomers is similar to that of bulk‐crystallized polyethylene samples, regardless of possible ionic aggregates. The origin of the lower temperature endothermic peak in the heating process of the differential scanning calorimetry curve observed for the as‐received sample has also been examined somewhat in detail. As a result, it is proposed that the melting of smaller crystallites produced during storage at room temperature is the origin of the lower temperature peak. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1142–1153, 2002     

Use of concentration-dependent relaxation rates for carbon-13 chemical shift assignment of symmetric tetraalkylammonium salts in acetonitrile

The assignment of ¹³C chemical shifts of several symmetric tetraalkylammonium salts in acetonitrile is based on alkyl chain carbon spin–lattice relaxation rates (T₁^?1), and on concentration-dependent changes in these rates.     

High-resolution 13C NMR study of free and metal-complexed ionophores in the solid state: Conformation and dynamics of the macrocyclic ring and the effect of intermolecular short contact of methyl groups on spin–lattice relaxation times and displacements of chemical shifts

High-resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of 15 samples of uncomplexed and metal-complexed tetranactin and nonactin were recorded in the solid state, revealing characteristic displacements of peaks due to complex formation and the effect of crystalline packing on the ¹³C chemical shifts and spin–lattice relaxation times of the methyl groups. The C-1 ¹³C chemical shifts of uncomplexed and complexed tetranaction and nonactin are well related to the variation of nearby torsion angles characteristic of the macrocyclic conformation, as determined by x-ray diffraction. The existence of short intermolecular contact of methyl groups (<3.8 Å) at the surface of the molecules results in either prolonged ¹³C spin–lattice relaxation times in the laboratory frame (T₁^C) or substantial upfield displacement of peaks (up to 6 ppm). In addition, significantly reduced T₁^C values in uncomplexed nonactin (one order of magnitude smaller than those of other compounds) was ascribed to the presence of a puckering motion of the tetrahydrofuran ring and fluctuation of the macrocyclic ring in the solid state (with a time scale of 10⁻⁸ _s). Finally, how the conformations of these compounds in the solid are retained in chloroform solution was examined in view of the differences in the ¹³C chemical shifts between the solid and solution.     

Longitudinal volume viscosity of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Volume flow of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (M?_n = 43,000 and T_g = 384) has been measured in an Instron Capillary Rheometer. Elastic modulus of the longitudinal wave, longitudinal volume viscosity, initial longitudinal volume viscosity, and retardation times are described at temperatures above T_g (418–483K) and compression rates of about 1.00–200.00 × 10⁵ s^?1. An initial increase followed by a decrease in longitudinal volume viscosity has been observed as the compression rate increases and the volume deformation decreases, this last behavior being at the lowest values of the compression rate (6.0 and 30.0 × 10^?5 s^?1) a typical nonequilibrium one. η_L also increases with increasing temperature (T_g decreases 0.18°C/MPa), and volume flow activation energy decreases as the volume deformation increases.     

The structure and dynamics of the copper(II)—l-proline 1:2 complex in solution

The ¹³C relaxation times (T₁ and T₂) and isotropic contact shifts (Δω) of a one molar aqueous solution of l-proline at pH = 11 (or pD = 11.4) containing ca 10^?4 M copper(II) perchlorate are measured at 62.86 MHz over a temperature range of 26–70°C. The purely dipolar longitudinal relaxation of carbon-13 nuclei contrasting with purely scalar transverse relaxation allowed us to extract carbon-to-metal distances (through T₁ measurements) and hyperfine coupling constants and dynamic parameters (from T₂ and Δω measurements). The structure of the complex in solution is found closely similar to that in the solid state. Curve-fitting procedures allowed us to derive the hyperfine electron—carbon coupling constants A_c = ?1.95, + 0.42, + 1.90 and ?1.70 MHz for carbons α, β, γ, δ, of the pyrrolidinic ring, the reorientation correlation time of the complex, τ_R (25°C) = 1.15 × 10^?10 sec, the l-proline exchange rate, k_M (25°C) = 4.0 × 10⁵ sec^?1 (and the corresponding activation parameters ΔH^≠ = 9.0 kcal mol^?1 and ΔS^≠ = ?0.7 e.u.), and the electronic relaxation time, T_1e = 1.13 × 10^?8 sec (at 25°C). The latter value was found in agreement with the one computed from ESR data and the above τ_R value, showing the predominant contributions of spin—rotation interaction and, to a lesser extent, of the effect of g-tensor anisotropy to the electronic relaxation rate.     

Studies of the kinetics of the interaction between N-trifluoroacetlyl-D-tryptophan and α-chymotrypsin by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance

The Carr-Purcell experiment first used by Allerhand and Gutowsky for the determination of chemical exchange rates has been applied to the study of an enzyme inhibitor complex. Chemical shift and relaxation time data obtained by analysis of pulsed fluorine NMR data collected at 51 MHz are shown to be consistent with high resolution results assembled at 94° 1 MHz. The rate constants for dissociation of the N-trifluoroacetyl-D -tryptophan-α-chymotrypsin complex were determined to be 1 × 10⁴ s^?1 at 26°C and 2 × 10³ s^?1 at 6·5°C. The resonance position of the fluorine nuclei of the inhibitor is shifted downfield ～1 ppm upon complexation to the enzyme, and the trifluoromethyl group suffers some restriction of molecular motion in the bound state as indicated by T₁ and T₂ data.     

Kinetics of hydroxyl radical reactions with formaldehyde and 1,3,5-trioxane between 290 and 600 K

Absolute rate constants are measured for the reactions: OH + CH₂O, over the temperature range 296–576 K and for OH + 1,3,5-trioxane over the range 292–597 K. The technique employed is laser photolysis of H₂O₂ or HNO₃ to produce OH, and laser-induced fluorescence to directly monitor the relative OH concentration. The results fit the following Arrhenius equations: k (CH₂O) = (1.66 ± 0.20) × 10^?11 exp[?(170 ± 80)/RT] cm³ s^?1 and k(1,3,5-trioxane) = (1.36 ± 0.20) × 10^?11 exp[?(460 ± 100)/RT] cm³ s^?1. The transition-state theory is employed to model the OH + CH₂O reaction and extrapolate into the combustion regime. The calculated result covering 300 to 2500 K can be represented by the equation: k(CH₂O) = 1.2 × 10^?18 T^2.46 exp(970/RT) cm³ s^?1. An estimate of 91 ± 2 kcal/mol is obtained for the first C? H bond in 1,3,5-trioxane by using a correlation of C? H bond strength with measured activation energies.     

Investigation at the chain segmental level of the miscibility of poly(vinyl chloride)/atactic poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

We employed high‐resolution ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle‐spinning/dipolar‐decoupling NMR spectroscopy to investigate the miscibility and phase behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends. The spin–lattice relaxation times of protons in both the laboratory and rotating frames [T₁(H) and T_1ρ(H), respectively] were indirectly measured through ¹³C resonances. The T₁(H) results indicate that the blends are homogeneous, at least on a scale of 200–300 Å, confirming the miscibility of the system from a differential scanning calorimetry study in terms of the replacement of the glass‐transition‐temperature feature. The single decay and composition‐dependent T_1ρ(H) values for each blend further demonstrate that the spin diffusion among all protons in the blends averages out the whole relaxation process; therefore, the blends are homogeneous on a scale of 18–20 Å. The microcrystallinity of PVC disappears upon blending with PMMA, indicating intimate mixing of the two polymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2390–2396, 2001     

2H NMR spin relaxation study of the soft segment motion in alternating ethylene–propylene copolymers

We synthesized three partially deuterated polymer samples, namely a poly(ethylene‐alt‐propylene) (EP) alternating copolymer, a poly(styrene‐b‐EP) diblock copolymer (SEP) and a poly(styrene‐b‐EP‐b‐styrene) triblock copolymer (SEPS). The ²H spin–lattice relaxation time, T₁, of EP soft segments above their glass transition temperature was measured by solid‐state ²H NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the block copolymers had a fast and a slow T₁ component whereas EP copolymer had only a fast component. The fast T₁ components for SEP and SEPS are similar to the T₁ value of EP above ca 20°C. The slow T₁ component for SEP and SEPS exhibited a minimum at 60°C and approached the value of the fast component near the T_g of polystyrene. The motional behavior of the EP units for SEP is similar to that of SEPS over the entire range of temperature. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rational Design of [13C,D14]Tert‐butylbenzene as a Scaffold Structure for Designing Long‐lived Hyperpolarized 13C Probes

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a technique to polarize the nuclear spin population. As a result of the hyperpolarization, the NMR sensitivity of the nuclei in molecules can be dramatically enhanced. Recent application of the hyperpolarization technique has led to advances in biochemical and molecular studies. A major problem is the short lifetime of the polarized nuclear spin state. Generally, in solution, the polarized nuclear spin state decays to a thermal spin equilibrium, resulting in loss of the enhanced NMR signal. This decay is correlated directly with the spin‐lattice relaxation time T₁. Here we report [¹³C,D₁₄]tert‐butylbenzene as a new scaffold structure for designing hyperpolarized ¹³C probes. Thanks to the minimized spin‐lattice relaxation (T₁) pathways, its water‐soluble derivative showed a remarkably long ¹³C T₁ value and long retention of the hyperpolarized spin state.     

35Cl NQR studies of 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and 1,2‐dichloro‐3‐nitrobenzene as a function of pressure and temperature

The temperature and pressure dependences of ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequency and spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) were investigated for 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and 1,2‐dichloro‐3‐nitrobenzene. T₁ was measured in the temperature range 77–300 K. Furthermore, the NQR frequency (ν) and T₁ for these compounds were measured as a function of pressure up to 5.1 kbar at 300 K. Relaxation was found to be due to the torsional motion of the molecule and the reorientation motion of the nitro group. By analysing the temperature dependence of T₁, the activation energy for the reorientation motion of the nitro group was obtained. The temperature dependence of the average torsional lifetimes of the molecules and the transition probabilities W₁ and W₂ for the Δm = ±1 and Δm = ±2 transitions, were also obtained. Both compounds showed a non‐linear variation of NQR frequency with pressure. The pressure coefficients were observed to be positive. A thermodynamic analysis of the data was carried out to determine the constant‐volume temperature coefficients of the NQR frequency. The spin–lattice relaxation time T₁ for both the compounds was found to be weakly dependent on pressure, showing that the relaxation is mainly due to the torsional motions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polymerization of acrylamide with persulfate–thiomalic acid initiator

The redox system of potassium persulfate–thiomalic acid (I₁–I₂) was used to initiate the polymerization of acrylamide (M) in aqueous medium. For 20–30% conversion the rate equation is where R_p is the rate of polymerization. Activation energy is 8.34 kcal deg^?1 mole^?1 in the investigated range of temperature 25–45°C. M_n is directly proportional to [M] and inversely to [I₁]. The range of concentrations for which these observations hold at 35°C and pH 4.2 are [I₁] = (1.0–3.0) × 10^?3, [I₂] = (3.0–7.5) × 10^?3, and [M] = 5.0 × 10^?2–3.0 × 10^?1 mole/liter.     

The structural and dynamic properties of 1‐bromodecane in urea inclusion compounds investigated by solid‐state 1H, 13C and 2H NMR spectroscopy

For asymmetric guest molecules in urea, the end‐groups of two adjacent guest molecules may arrange in three different ways: head–head, head–tail and tail–tail. Solid‐state ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy is used to study the structural properties of 1‐bromodecane in urea. It is found that the end groups of the guest molecules are randomly arranged. The dynamic characteristics of 1‐bromodecane in urea inclusion compounds are probed by variable‐temperature solid‐state ²H NMR spectroscopy (line shapes, spin–spin relaxation: T₂, spin‐lattice relaxation: T_1Z and T_1Q) between 120 K and room temperature. The comparison between the simulation and experimental data shows that the dynamic properties of the guest molecules can be described in a quantitative way using a non‐degenerate three‐site jump process in the low‐temperature phase and a degenerate three‐site jump in the high‐temperature phase, in combination with the small‐angle wobbling motion. The kinetic parameters can be derived from the simulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of CHXCFX (X = H,F) with OH (253–328 K) and NO3 (298 K) radicals and O3 (236–308 K)

Rate constants for the reactions of OH and NO₃ radicals with CH₂?CHF (k₁ and k₄), CH₂?CF₂ (k₂ and k₅), and CHF?CF₂ (k₃ and k₆) were determined by means of a relative rate method. The rate constants for OH radical reactions at 253–328 K were k₁ = (1.20 ± 0.37) × 10^?12 exp[(410 ± 90)/T], k₂ = (1.51 ± 0.37) × 10^?12 exp[(190 ± 70)/T], and k₃ = (2.53 ± 0.60) × 10^?12 exp[(340 ± 70)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The rate constants for NO₃ radical reactions at 298 K were k₄ = (1.78 ± 0.12) × 10^?16 (CH₂?CHF), k₅ = (1.23 ± 0.02) × 10^?16 (CH₂?CF₂), and k₆ = (1.86 ± 0.09) × 10^?16 (CHF?CF₂) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The rate constants for O₃ reactions with CH₂?CHF (k₇), CH₂?CF₂ (k₈), and CHF?CF₂ (k₉) were determined by means of an absolute rate method: k₇ = (1.52 ± 0.22) × 10^?15 exp[?(2280 ± 40)/T], k₈ = (4.91 ± 2.30) × 10^?16 exp[?(3360 ± 130)/T], and k₉ = (5.70 ± 4.04) × 10^?16 exp[?(2580 ± 200)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 236–308 K. The errors reported are ±2 standard deviations and represent precision only. The tropospheric lifetimes of CH₂?CHF, CH₂?CF₂, and CHF?CF₂ with respect to reaction with OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ were calculated to be 2.3, 4.4, and 1.6 days, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 619–628, 2010     

Kinetics and rate constants for the reaction of tri-n-butylgermanium hydride with methyl iodide and carbon tetrachloride. The combination of methyl and trichloromethyl radicals in solution.

The kinetics of the photoinitiated reductions of methyl iodide and carbon tetrachloride by tri-n-butylgermanium hydride in cyclohexane at 25°C have been studied and absolute rate constants have been measured. Rate constants for the combination of CH₃? and CCl₃? radicals are equal within experimental error and are also equal to the values found for the self-reactions of most non-polymeric radicals in low viscosity solvents, i.e. ～1–3 × 10⁹ M^?1 sec^?1. Rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by CH₃? and CCl₃? radicals are both ～1?2 × 10⁵ M^?1 sec^?1. Tri-n-butyltin hydride is about 10–20 times as good a hydrogen donor to alkyl radicals as is tri-n-butylgermanium hydride. The strength of the germanium–hydrogen bond, D(n-Bu₃Ge–H) is estimated to be approximately 84 kcal/mole.     

A consistent model for the thermal decomposition of NCN3 and the singlet– triplet relaxation of NCN

The thermal decomposition of cyanogen azide (NCN₃) and the subsequent collision‐induced intersystem crossing (CIISC) process of cyanonitrene (NCN) have been investigated by monitoring excited electronic state ¹NCN and ground state ³NCN radicals. NCN was generated by the pyrolysis of NCN₃ behind shock waves and by the photolysis of NCN₃ at room temperature. Falloff rate constants of the thermal unimolecular decomposition of NCN₃ in argon have been extracted from ¹NCN concentration–time profiles in the temperature range 617 K <T< 927 K and at two different total densities: k(ρ ≈ 3 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=4.9 × 10⁹ × exp (?71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%); k(ρ ≈ 6 × 10^?6 mol/cm³)/s^?1=7.5 × 10⁹ × exp (‐71±14 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 30%). In addition, high‐temperature ¹NCN absorption cross sections have been determined in the temperature range 618 K <T< 1231 K and can be expressed by σ /(cm²/mol)= 1.0 × 10⁸ ?6.3 × 10⁴ K^?1 × T (± 50%). Rate constants for the CIISC process have been measured by monitoring ³NCN in the temperature range 701 K <T< 1256 K resulting in k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 1.8 ×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=2.6 × 10⁶× exp (‐36±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 3.5×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1 = 2.0 × 10⁶ × exp (?31±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%), k_CIISC (ρ ≈ 7.0×10^?6 mol/cm³)/ s^?1=1.4 × 10⁶ × exp (?25±10 kJ mol^?1/RT) (± 20%). These values are in good agreement with CIISC rate constants extracted from corresponding ¹NCN measurements. The observed nonlinear pressure dependences reveal a pressure saturation effect of the CIISC process. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 30–40, 2013     

Proton mobility and copper coordination in polysaccharide- and gelatin-based bioblends and polyblends

Polysaccharide- and gelatin-based bioblends and polyblends were synthesized and characterized by complex impedance spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Higher ionic conductivities of 7.9 × 10^?5 S/cm at room temperature and 2.5 × 10^?3 S/cm at 80 °C were obtained for the agar-chitosan polyblends. For all samples, the activation energies, calculated from the Arrhenius plot of ionic conductivity and from the onset of NMR line narrowing, are in the range 0.30–0.86 and 0.38–0.57 eV, respectively. The glass transition temperatures (T _g ^NMR ) varied from 200 to 215 K, depending on the sample composition. The temperature dependence of the ¹H spin–lattice relaxation revealed two distinct proton dynamics. The EPR spectra are characteristic of Cu² ions in tetragonally distorted octahedral sites. Quantitative analysis of the EPR spin Hamiltonian g _|| and A _|| parameters revealed copper ions complexed by nitrogens and oxygens in the samples containing chitosan or gelatin and only by oxygens in agar-based ones. The in-plane π bonding is less covalent for the gelatin and chitosan blends. Results suggest that natural bioblends and polyblends are interesting systems to be used in materials science engineering.     

X‐ray diffraction study of the thermal expansion behavior of cellulose triacetate I

Highly crystalline samples of cellulose triacetate I (CTA I) were prepared from highly crystalline algal cellulose by heterogeneous acetylation. X‐ray diffraction of the prepared samples was carried out in a helium atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 20 to 250 °C. Changes in seven d‐spacings were observed with increasing temperature due to thermal expansion of the CTA I crystals. Unit cell parameters at specific temperatures were determined from these d‐spacings by the least squares method, and then thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) were calculated. The linear TECs of the a, b, and c axes were α_a = 19.3 × 10^?5 °C^?1, α_b = 0.3 × 10^?5 °C^?1 (T < 130 °C), α_b = ?2.5 × 10^?5 °C^?1 (T > 130 °C), and α_c = ?1.9 × 10^?5 °C^?1, respectively. The volume TEC was β = 15.6 × 10^?5 °C^?1, which is about 1.4 and 2.2 times greater than that of cellulose I_β and cellulose III_I, respectively. This large thermal expansion could occur because no hydrogen bonding exists in CTA I. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 517–523, 2009