A 13C NMR study of the effect of γ-irradiation on the chain dynamics of poly(ethylene oxide)

A comparison of solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of virgin and vacuum γ-irradiated poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) evidences marked differences. The unirradiated PEO shows a well-resolved amorphous resonance and a weak, broad envelope of crystalline resonances, while the irradiated PEO presents well-resolved resonances for both the crystalline and amorphous carbons. Upon recrystallization from the melt both PEO samples yield solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra that are closely similar to that of the virgin, unheated sample. Observation of both melt-recrystallized samples at ?60°C yields similar spectra with well-resolved crystalline resonances. Crosslinking is the predominant chemical change occurring during the γ-irradiation of PEO under vacuum and produces a change in the motional character of the crystalline phase. This change is not the result of a reduction in crystallinity as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) observations. The most probable explanation is that the crosslinks are concentrated at the surface of the crystalline lamellae with a resultant change in the low frequency molecular motions of the crystalline chains. This motional change shifts the T_1p^H such that the crystalline carbon nuclei can now be cross-polarized at room temperature and the resonance linewidth is reduced. Following melting and recrystallization the motional characteristics of the irradiated PEO are nearly identical to those of the unirradiated sample, probably as a result of a redistribution of the crosslinks throughout the amorphous phase during recrystallization.     

Non-Kramers' behavior of the chain local dynamics of PVC in dilute solution. Carbon-13 NMR relaxation study

Carbon-13 spin-lattice, spin-spin relaxation times, and NOE values were measured as a function of temperature at two magnetic fields for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in three solvents: chloroform, dioxane, and dimethyl sulfoxide. The relaxation data were interpreted in terms of chain local motions by using the bimodal time-correlation function of the Dejean-Laupretre-Monnerie (DLM) model. Using this model, the correlation times obtained in this study, as well as those from an earlier study in dibutyl phthalate and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane did not follow a linear relationship with solvent viscosity. Instead, the chain local dynamics showed a 0.60 power dependence on solvent viscosity, indicating that PVC deviates from the hydrodynamic Kramers' theory. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Composite spectral density functions for the interpretation of the 13C NMR relaxation behavior of polymers containing hydrocarbon side chains. Free and restricted side chain motion

¹³C NMR NT₁ and NOE have been calculated by using composite spectral density functions describing polymer chain segmental motion and internal rotation of a hydrocarbon side chain attached to the polymer backbone. Numerical results at two magnetic fields are presented as a function of the various motional parameters characterizing the various models. NT₁ and NOE relaxation parameters are well behaved and appear to have practical value for describing the dynamics of these systems. The models have been applied to the relaxation data of poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) in toluene solutions. The dynamics of the two polymers are characterized by a very localized backbone motion and restricted internal rotation about successive C? C bonds of the side chains. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Tumbling motions of NH2(CH3)2 ions in [NH2(CH3)2]2ZnCl4 studied using 1H MAS NMR and 13C CP/MAS NMR

The structure and the phase transition temperatures of [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₂ZnCl₄ were determined using X-ray diffraction and DSC, respectively. The temperature dependence of chemical shifts and the spin–lattice relaxation time T_1ρ in the rotating frame were measured for the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei in [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₂ZnCl₄. From these results, it was observed that the structural change by chemical shifts does not occur with temperature. However, T_1ρ for ¹H and ¹³C in [NH₂(CH₃)₂]₂ZnCl₄ showed a minimum, and it is apparent that both T_1ρ values are governed by the same tumbling motions. The activation energies of tumbling motions for ¹H and ¹³C are nearly the same owing to the connection between CH₃ and NH₂ ions in the [NH₂(CH₃)₂]⁺ group.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation of α-13C nuclei of helical poly(γ-hexyl-L-glutamate) and poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate)

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁), spin-spin relaxation times (T₂), and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE), at 75.5 MHz are reported for α-¹³C nuclei of poly (γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) in deuterated dimethylformamide at 60°C and of poly(γ-hexyl-L -glutamate) in cyclohexanone at 48 and 79°C. It is shown that for molecular weights above 10⁵, the polypeptides cannot be considered as essentially rigid helices with internal librational motions; additional backbone flexing motions contribute to the relaxation behavior.     

Side chain length affects backbone dynamics in poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s

Charge transport in conjugated polymers may be governed not only by the static microstructure but also fluctuations of backbone segments. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we predict the role of side chains in the backbone dynamics for regiorandom poly(3‐alkylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl)s (P3ATs). We show that the backbone of poly(3‐dodecylthiophene‐2‐5‐diyl) (P3DDT) moves faster than that of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) as a result of the faster motion of the longer side chains. To verify our predictions, we investigated the structures and dynamics of regiorandom P3ATs with neutron scattering and solid state NMR. Measurements of spin‐lattice relaxations (T₁) using NMR support our prediction of faster motion for side chain atoms that are farther away from the backbone. Using small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS), we confirmed that regiorandom P3ATs are amorphous at about 300 K, although microphase separation between the side chains and backbones is apparent. Furthermore, quasi‐elastic neutron scattering (QENS) reveals that thiophene backbone motion is enhanced as the side chain length increases from hexyl to dodecyl. The faster motion of longer side chains leads to faster backbone dynamics, which in turn may affect charge transport for conjugated polymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 1193–1202     

A 13C NMR study of β-carboline alkaloids

The ¹³C NMR spectra of β-carboline alkaloids were determined, and unambiguous assignments of the spectra were carried out from the long-range coupling constants.     

13C NMR study of the enol forms of β-diketones

Carbon-13 NMR spectra of a series of β-diketones in the enol form with various β-substituents have been studied. An additive influence of the β-substituents on the chemical shifts of the carbon atoms in the hydrogen bonded chelate ring has been found. It is shown that the α- and β-carbon chemical shifts can be calculated by means of a set of increments for arbitrary combinations of the X and Y substituents. Analysis of the experimental data enables the conclusions to be drawn that enol–enolic tautomerism with different populations of the forms (A) and (B) is absent in β-diketones and that the carbon chemical shift changes are caused by electron density redistribution in the hydrogen bonded chelate ring (C).     

Dielectric γ relaxation in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

The dielectric constant and loss were measured for poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) from ?90 to 34°C over the frequency range 30 to 3 × 10⁵ Hz in the γ relaxation region. The relaxation was also characterized using activation energies.     

NMR study of poly(vinyl chloride)-β,β-d2

The high-resolution NMR spectra at 60 and 100 Mcps of poly(vinyl chloride)-β,β-d₂ in o-dichlorobenzene, pyridine, and C₂HCl₅ solutions are reported. The use of low molecular weight samples and of {D} spin-decoupling experiments, which yield higher resolution spectra, results in the observation of a number of additional resonances for the α-proton. These can be interpreted in terms of pentad configurational sequences of monomer units. It is found that, whereas the S syndiotactic pentads cannot be resolved, two components of the H heterotactic and all of the possible I isotactic pentads are clearly discernible. From the tacticity values of polymers prepared at +40, 0, and ?40°C, enthalpy and entropy of activation for isotactic and syndiotactic monomer placement are found to be 630 cal/mole and 1.5 eu, respectively.     

Reduction of conformational mobility and aggregation in W60G β2‐microglobulin: assessment by 15N NMR relaxation

The amyloid pathology associated with long‐term haemodialysis is due to the deposition of β₂‐microglobulin, the non‐polymorphic light chain of class I major histocompatibility complex, that accumulates at bone joints into amyloid fibrils. Several lines of evidence show the relevance of the tryptophan residue at position 60 for the fibrillogenic transition of the protein. A comparative ¹⁵N NMR relaxation analysis is presented for wild‐type human β₂‐microglobulin and W60G β₂‐microglobulin, i.e. the mutant with a glycyne replacing the natural tryptophan residue at position 60. The experimental data, collected at 11.4 T and 310 K, were analyzed by means of the reduced spectral density approach. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and corresponding thermodynamic integration, together with hydrodynamic calculations were performed to support data interpretation. The analysis results for the mutant protein are consistent with a reduced aggregation with respect to the wild‐type counterpart, as a consequence of an increased conformational rigidity probed by either NMR relaxation and MD simulations. Although dynamics in solution is other than fibrillar competence, the assessed properties of the mutant protein can be related with its reduced ability of forming fibrils when seeded in 20% trifluoroethanol. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Piezoelectric relaxation in poly(γ-benzyl-glutamate)

The piezoelectric d- and e-constants, together with the elastic constant and the dielectric constant, were measured for oriented poly(γ-benzyl-glutamate) (PBG) films with various elongation ratios as a function of frequency and temperature, using an apparatus developed by us. The results are discussed in terms of a general theory of piezoelectricity for inhomogeneous systems, in particular for a disperse two-phase system. The piezoelectricity of PBG film is proved to originate from the piezoelectric and optically active symmetry of PBG crystallities and their orientation distribution by three findings: (1) the d₁₄ component of the piezoelectric matrix, which is the only component for a uniaxially or uniplanarly oriented system, is observed; (2) d₁₄ > 0 for PBDG and d₁₄ < 0 for PBLG; (3) d₁₄ is proportional to the degree of orientation F_c of PBG crystallites, as determined by x-ray diffraction. By extrapolating to perfect orientation, d₁₄ is determined to be 5 × 10^?8 cgs esu, if the side chains of PBG are rigid. The piezoelectric relaxation of PBG due to thermal motion of the side chains has a dual character: it is relaxational at lower frequencies and retardational at higher frequencies. On the assumption that the α-helical main chains surrounded by the bulky side chains are responsible for the origin of the piezoelectricity, such relaxation phenomena are interpreted in terms of the relaxation of the local elastic field in the main chains. An equivalent model having the same frequency characteristics is proposed to include the higher order structure of the PBG film.     

Layered metal(IV) phosphonate materials: Solid‐state 1H, 13C, 31P NMR spectra and NMR relaxation

Multinuclear solid‐state NMR and powder X‐ray diffraction data collected for phosphonate materials Zr(O₃PC₆H₄PO₃) · 3.6H₂O and Sn(O₃PC₆H₄PO₃)_0.85(O₃POH)_0.30 · 3.09H₂O have resulted in the layered structure, where the phosphonic acids cross‐link the layers. The main structural motif (the 111 connectivity in the PO₃ group) has been established by determination of chemical shift anisotropy parameters for phosphorus nuclei in the phosphonate groups. An analysis of the variable‐temperature ³¹P T₁ measurements and the shapes of the phosphorus resonances in the ³¹P static NMR spectra have resulted in the dipolar mechanism of the phosphorus spin‐lattice relaxation, where the rotating phenylene rings reorient dipolar vectors P^…H as a driving force of the relaxation process. It has been found that water protons do not affect the ³¹P T₁ times. The activation energy of the phenylene rotation in both compounds has been determined as low as 12.5 kJ/mol. The interpretation of the phosphorus relaxation data has been independently confirmed by the measurements of ¹H T₁ times for protons of the phenylene rings.     

Evidence for the γ‐relaxation in the light scattering spectra of poly (n‐hexyl methacrylate) near the glass transition

The full range of relaxation processes present in optically pure poly‐(n‐hexyl methacrylate) (PHMA) was studied using Rayleigh–Brillouin and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Brillouin shifts, linewidths, and Landau–Placzek ratios (LPR) were measured over the temperature range from ?11 to 21 °C. The Brillouin splitting and linewidth were consistent with previous studies of PHMA, but the LPR was much lower, indicating that the scattered light primarily comes from intrinsic density fluctuations. Relaxation functions of the same PHMA sample were measured using PCS over the temperature range 0.5–52.5 °C. The average relaxation times calculated from a Williams–Watts fit follow a VFT temperature dependence, with the stretching parameter β decreasing with decreasing temperature. The distribution of relaxation times reveals a merging of the α and β‐relaxations over this temperature range, and the temperature dependent width confirms that there are at least two processes with separate temperature dependences. Furthermore, there appears a process at short times in the correlation function window at low temperatures. This upturn at the fastest relaxation times is attributed to the γ‐relaxation present in higher order methacrylate polymers. The effect of the γ‐relaxation is discussed in terms of the dynamic behavior over 12 decades in time. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1504–1519, 2005     

Solid state 13C NMR study of hexa(methoxy methyl)melamine and melamine-formaldehyde selfcondensates

The structure and molecular dynamics of self-condensation products of three different melamine resins based on hexa(methoxy methyl)melamine are studied by ¹³C NMR in the solid state. The application of direct (DP) and cross-polarization (CP) pulse sequences shows that uncured and cured melamine resins are motionally heterogeneous systems, with the mobile and rigid parts consisting of the same basic structural units. Viscous lightly cured samples based on commercial melamine-formaldehyde resins contain low-molecular weight species which act as plasticizers. In these resins, three motionally different methyl groups are observed. Their existence is confirmed either by spectral deconvolution or by fitting the experimental signal intensities to the cross-polarization dynamics with the assumption of two cross-polarization-transfer rates. Fast cross-polarizing rigid methyl groups are accompanied with the spinning sidebands. On the basis of DP and CP relaxation measurements, quantitative results for three major structural units are calculated. Problems concerning the ¹⁴N-¹³C quadrupolar interactions and quantitative analysis are discussed. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular dynamics of hydrophilic poly(propylene imine) dendrimers in aqueous solutions by 1H NMR relaxation

The local dynamics of three poly(propylene imine) dendrimers with hydrophilic triethylenoxy methyl ether terminal groups were studied in D₂O by the measurement of the ¹H NMR relaxation times, which were treated with the Lipari–Szabo model‐free approach. The results showed that the overall mobility increased with temperature and decreased with increasing dendrimer size. An Arrhenius trend was observed for both overall and local motions. The activation energy of overall tumbling increased from 11.3 to 17.5 kJ/mol with the dendrimer size. The local mobility decreased from the outer part to the inner part of the dendrimer and with the dendrimer size. The spatial restriction of local motions decreased with increasing temperature up to 55 °C and remained constant above 55 °C. Local motions were more restricted when the dendrimer size increased. The results showed that the hydrophilic end groups of the dendrimers were located preferentially at the periphery of the molecules and were extended in the aqueous environment. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 2969–2975, 2003     

1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectral analysis of monoalkyl (α‐anilinobenzyl)phosphonates and their dipalladium(II) metallocyclic complexes

A ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR study of monoethyl (HL1) and monobutyl (HL2) esters of (α‐anilinobenzyl)phosphonic acid and their metallocyclic dipalladium complexes (Pd₂L₄,L = L1, L2) in DMSO‐d₆ was performed, based on 1D and 2D homo‐ and heteronuclear experiments including ¹H,¹³C,³¹P,APT,¹H–¹H COSY, ¹H–¹³C COSY, gs‐HMQC and gs‐HMBC NMR techniques. The results obtained are discussed with respect to those for some palladium(II) complexes reported for various anilinobenzylphosphonate derivatives. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.