Effect of Strong Irradiation on Raman Magnetic Resonance in an AX Spin System

In Raman magnetic resonance an initially prepared multiple quantum coherence (MQC) in a spin system introduces all the possible single quantum (SQ) and multiple quantum (MQ) NMR signals when an irradiation is applied during the detection period. If the irradiation is weak, the induced signals include those MQs up to the very order of this given MQC, while in the strong irradiation case, those MQs beyond the very order of the given MQC will also appear. An analytical approach based on the product formalism is developed to predict the intensities and frequencies of these induced signals. The analysis provides a complete treatment to cover both cases of weak and strong irradiation. It is also demonstrated with an AX spin system. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the analysis.     

A Heterometallic Porphyrin Dimer as a Potential Quantum Gate: Magneto-Structural Correlations and Spin Coherence Properties

In the development of two-qubit quantum gates, precise control over the intramolecular spin-spin interaction between molecular spin units plays a pivotal role. A weak but measurable exchange coupling is especially important for achieving selective spin addressability that allows controlled manipulation of the computational basis states |00⟩ |01⟩ |10⟩ |11⟩ by microwave pulses. Here, we report the synthesis and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) study of a heterometallic meso-meso (m-m) singly-linked V^IVO−Cu^II porphyrin dimer. X-band continuous wave EPR measurements in frozen solutions suggest a ferromagnetic exchange coupling of ca. 8 ⋅ 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. This estimation is supported by Density Functional Theory calculations, which also allow disentangling the ferro- and antiferromagnetic contributions to the exchange. Pulsed EPR experiments show that the dimer maintains relaxation times similar to the monometallic Cu^II porphyrins. The addressability of the two individual spins is made possible by the different g -tensors of V^IV and Cu^II-ions, in contrast to homometallic dimers where tilting of the porphyrin planes plays a key role. Therefore, single-spin addressability in the heterometallic dimer can be maintained even with small tilting angles, as expected when deposited on surface, unlocking the full potential of molecular quantum gates for practical applications.     

模糊自适应PID算法在核磁共振谱仪样品旋转控制系统中的应用

在核磁共振(NMR)实验中,样品旋转能够有效消除 XY 方向磁场的部分不均匀性,从而提高信号分辨率.在商用NMR谱仪中,一般采用PID算法进行待测样品的旋转控制.由于被控对象具有一定的非线性,存在着调节时间较长,稳定后存在误差等缺点.针对该现象,在Varian 500 MHz波谱仪气路系统的基础上,设计一套新的控制电路...     

High-Temperature Quantum Tunneling and Hydrogen Bonding Rearrangements Characterize the Solid-Solid Phase Transitions in a Phosphonium-Based Protic Ionic Liquid

We report the complex phase behavior of the glass forming protic ionic liquid (PIL) d3-octylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [C₈H₁₇PD₃][NTf₂] by means of solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Combined line shape and spin relaxation studies of the deuterons in the PD₃ group of the octylphosphonium cation allow to map and correlate the phase behavior for a broad temperature range from 71 K to 343 K. In the solid PIL at 71 K, we observed a static state, characterized by the first deuteron quadrupole coupling constant reported for PD₃ deuterons. A transition enthalpy of about 12 kJ mol⁻¹ from the static to the mobile state with increasing temperature suggests the breaking of a weak, charge-enhanced hydrogen bond between cation and anion. The highly mobile phase above 100 K exhibits an almost disappearing activation barrier, strongly indicating quantum tunneling. Thus, we provide first evidence of tunneling driven mobility of the hydrogen bonded P−D moieties in the glassy state of PILs, already at surprisingly high temperatures up to 200 K. Above 250 K, the mobile phase turns from anisotropic to isotropic motion, and indicates strong internal rotation of the PD₃ group. The analyzed line shapes and spin relaxation times allow us to link the structural and dynamical behavior at molecular level with the phase behavior beyond the DSC traces.     

Diamond Quantum Devices in Biology

The currently available techniques for molecular imaging capable of reaching atomic resolution are limited to low temperatures, vacuum conditions, or large amounts of sample. Quantum sensors based on the spin‐dependent photoluminescence of nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) centers in diamond offer great potential to achieve single‐molecule detection with atomic resolution under ambient conditions. Diamond nanoparticles could also be prepared with implanted NV centers, thereby generating unique nanosensors that are able to traffic into living biological systems. Therefore, this technique might provide unprecedented access and insight into the structure and function of individual biomolecules under physiological conditions as well as observation of biological processes down to the quantum level with atomic resolution. The theory of diamond quantum sensors and the current developments from their preparation to sensing techniques have been critically discussed in this Minireview.     

Chemical origins of permanent set in a peroxide cured filled silicone elastomer - tensile and H NMR analysis

The aging of a commercial filled siloxane polymeric composite in states of high stress and Co-60 γ-radiation exposure has been studied. DC-745 is a commercially available silicone elastomer consisting of dimethyl, methyl-phenyl, and vinyl-methyl siloxane monomers crosslinked with a peroxide vinyl specific curing agent. It is filled with ∼ 30 wt.% mixture of high and low surface area silicas. This filled material is shown to be subject to permanent set if exposed to radiation while under tensile stress. Tensile modulus measurements show that the material becomes marginally softer with combined radiation exposure and tensile strain as compared to material exposed to radiation without tensile strain. In addition, the segmental dynamics as measured by both uniaxial NMR relaxometry and Multiple Quantum NMR methods indicate that the material undergoes radiatively-induced crosslinking in the absence of tensile strain. In the presence of tensile strain, relaxometry and MQ NMR studies show a strain dependent change in the dynamic order parameter and in the number of polymer chains associated with the filler surface. Solvent swelling measurements indicated no dependence on network crosslink density on strain ratio. Variable tau CPMG echo experiments indicate that a fraction of the polymer chains diffuses through areas of strong magnetic field gradients both at the filler-polymer interface and adjacent to micro-voids within the network. The population of the polymer chains influenced by the field gradients was observed to be dependent on the cumulative dose and degree of tensile strain applied during exposure. The relative change in crosslink density from the NMR and solvent swelling data deviates from that predicted from the Tobolsky model, particularly at higher doses. The likely reasons for this deviation are changes in the filler-polymer interface, increasing deviation from Gaussian chain statistics, and/or the formation of increased numbers of elastically ineffective network chains.     

Enantiotropy of Simvastatin as a Result of Weakened Interactions in the Crystal Lattice: Entropy-Driven Double Transitions and the Transient Modulated Phase as Seen by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

In crystalline molecular solids, in the absence of strong intermolecular interactions, entropy-driven processes play a key role in the formation of dynamically modulated transient phases. Specifically, in crystalline simvastatin, the observed fully reversible enantiotropic behavior is associated with multiple order–disorder transitions: upon cooling, the dynamically disordered high-temperature polymorphic Form I is transformed to the completely ordered low-temperature polymorphic Form III via the intermediate (transient) modulated phase II. This behavior is associated with a significant reduction in the kinetic energy of the rotating and flipping ester substituents, as well as a decrease in structural ordering into two distinct positions. In transient phase II, the conventional three-dimensional structure is modulated by periodic distortions caused by cooperative conformation exchange of the ester substituent between the two states, which is enabled by weakened hydrogen bonding. Based on solid-state NMR data analysis, the mechanism of the enantiotropic phase transition and the presence of the transient modulated phase are documented.     

Evidence of Multiple Phase Transitions in Single-crystalline CuO by DSC Heat Capacity Measurement

Heat capacity measurements were carried out on single-crystalline CuO in the temperature range 130–300 K. Sharp peaks corresponding to the antiferromagnetic transitions were clearly observed at 211 and 227 K. At the low-temperature end, near 160 K, a wide peak in the heat capacity signal was also demonstrated. An electric anomaly was observed in the temperature range 150–160 K, which strongly suggests the possibility of a new low-temperature phase transition in CuO. This study also indicates that DSC measurement is an effective tool to detect magnetic transitions and probe subtle phase transitions in solids.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Induced Chirality in Canthaxanthin Aggregates Reveals Multiple Levels of Supramolecular Organization

Carotenoids tend to form supramolecular aggregates via non-covalent interactions where the chirality of individual molecules is amplified to the macroscopic level. We show that this can also be achieved for non-chiral carotenoid monomers interacting with polysaccharides. The chirality induction in canthaxanthin (CAX), caused by heparin (HP) and hyaluronic acid (HA), was monitored by chiroptical spectroscopy. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra indicated the presence of multiple carotenoid formations, such as H- and J-type aggregates. This is consistent with molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations of the supramolecular structures and their spectroscopic response.     

Precise Measurement of Long‐Range Heteronuclear Coupling Constants by a Novel Broadband Proton–Proton‐Decoupled CPMG‐HSQMBC Method

A broadband proton–proton‐decoupled CPMG‐HSQMBC method for the precise and direct measurement of long‐range heteronuclear coupling constants is presented. The Zangger–Sterk‐based homodecoupling scheme reported herein efficiently removes unwanted proton–proton splittings from the heteronuclear multiplets, so that the desired heteronuclear couplings can be determined simply by measuring frequency differences between singlet maxima in the resulting spectra. The proposed pseudo‐1D/2D pulse sequences were tested on nucleotides, a metal complex incorporating P heterocycles, and diglycosyl (di)selenides, as well as on other carbohydrate derivatives, for the extraction of ⁿJ(¹H,³¹P), ⁿJ(¹H,⁷⁷Se), and ⁿJ(¹H,¹³C) values, respectively.     

多定态转变化学反应体系与环境传热-扩散耦合导致的环面型化学振荡

以Schlögl模型作为多定态转变化学反应体系的范例, 研究了通过传热及扩散与环境耦合的多定态转变化学反应体系中诱发的新动力学行为, 其中特别重要的是沿慢变量方向的环面型化学振荡的出现. 建立了慢流型上的准定态的线形化稳定性分析法, 揭示了由极限环振荡蜕变为环面型振荡的动力学机制, 不同于小寄生参数存在引起的非连续极限环振荡. 通过以慢流型上准定态稳定性分区为基础的定性分析, 进一步揭示了该类体系中可能出现间歇性、反复持续式和骤发式3种亚类环面振荡. 最后以第三亚类作为示例, 以相应的计算机模拟证实理论分析的正确性.     

自旋标记法研究STVPh/PEO共混体系的链运动

利用自旋标记法将氮氧自由基连接在聚氧化乙烯分子末端,测得其与不同羟基含量的苯乙烯-4-乙烯基苯酚共聚物组成高分子共混体系的ESR波谱,研究了各组分的分子链运动.自旋标记聚氧化乙烯的ESR谱图在整个温度范围内只显示快运动或慢运动的一种运动成分,表明氮氧自由基处于单一的环境中.高分子共混体系的ESR谱在一定温度范围内同时存在快运动和慢运动的两种运动成分,且两成分相对比例随温度的变化而变化,表明体系中氮氧自由基处于不同的微相环境中.由ESR谱得到的T_5mT,τ_c,E_a的值都随着体系中羟基含量的增加而变大,显示标记分子的链运动在共混体系中的活动逐步受阻.与此同时,随着该共混物中酚羟基和醚氧基间氢键相互作用强度的增大,共混物的相容性得到逐步改善.     

Role of hydration in the phase transition of polypeptides investigated by NMR and Raman spectroscopy

NMR, Raman spectroscopy and ab initio quantum-chemical calculations have been employed to investigate the role of the hydration water in the inverse temperature transition of elastin-derived biopolymers represented by poly(Gly-Val-Gly-Val-Pro) and poly(Ala-Val-Gly-Val-Pro). Temperature and concentration dependences of the Raman spectra measured for water solutions of polymers and of a low-molecular-weight model have been correlated with the vibrational frequencies calculated at the DFT (B3LYP) and MP2 levels for the peptide segment surrounded by a growing number of water molecules. The results indicate strong hydration before the transition that, in addition to water hydrogen-bonded to amide groups, includes hydrophobic hydration of non-polar groups by a dynamic cluster of several water molecules. According to ¹H longitudinal and transverse relaxation of HOD signals in D₂O solutions, the number of water molecules motionally correlated with the polymer is about 4 per one amino acid residue.     

Visible-Light-Mediated Oxidative Amidation of Aldehydes by Using Magnetic CdS Quantum Dots as a Photocatalyst

A magnetic CdS quantum dot (Fe₃O₄/polydopamine (PDA)/CdS) was synthesized through a facile and convenient method from inexpensive starting materials. Characterization of the prepared catalyst was performed by means of FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and vibrating-sample magnetometer techniques. Fe₃O₄/PDA/CdS was found to be a highly active photocatalyst for the amidation of aromatic aldehydes by using air as a clean oxidant under mild conditions. The photocatalyst can be recovered by magnetic separation and successfully reused for five cycles without considerable loss of its catalytic activity.