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.     

Water penetration in nylon 6,6: Absorption,desorption, and exchange studied by NMR microscopy

The uptake of water by nylon 6,6 [42DB Adipure (trade name of Dupont Canada Inc.)] at 100°C has been monitored by a combination of one-dimensional proton NMR spectroscopy, relaxation time (T₁ and T₂) measurements and proton microscopic NMR imaging techniques. The relaxation times of the water absorbed into the nylon matrix are very short at room temperature, (T₂ < 1 ms and T₁ ≈ 1 s) indicating that the water is located in a highly restricted environment and suggesting that strong interactions exist between the absorbed water and the polymer. The diffusion profiles measured at room temperature indicate that the diffusion of water into nylon 6,6 at 100°C is Case I Fickian diffusion. The spatial dependence of the T₂ relaxation time constant and its variation with the water content was also examined. The results reveal that both T₂ and T₂^* decrease toward the center of the sample in samples that have a concentration gradient of sorbed water. In fully saturated samples, no spatial dependence was observed. The overall values of T₂ and T₂^* are also observed to increase as a function of exposure time. An evaluation of the desorption process at room temperature and at 100°C was performed. A continuous, exponentially decreasing solvent profile was observed for the desorption process which again indicates Case I Fickian kinetics. The exchange process of external bulk and atmospheric water with deuterium oxide (D₂O) saturated nylon rods has also been studied using the microscopic imaging technique. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Frequency dependence of intermolecular proton spin-lattice relaxation rate and pair-diffusion constant in neat acetonitrile -d2

Frequency dependence of intermolecular proton spin-lattice relaxation rate [(1/T₁)inter(ω)] in neat acetonitrile-d₂ was studied. From (1/T₁)inter(ω) pair-diffusion constants were determined to be 0.281 × 10^?5 and 0.237 × 10^?5 cm² s^?1 at 22 and ?32.6°C, respectively. These values differ greatly from the self-diffusion constants.     

Slow molecular mobility in the amorphous thermoplastic polysulfone

The thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) technique has been used to study the slow molecular mobility of polysulfone in the glassy state and in the glass transformation region, i.e., in the temperature ranging from ?155 to 183 °C. Since the polysulfone is a rigid polymer without polar side-groups, a broad and low-intensity secondary relaxation was detected in the temperature region from ?120 °C up to the glass transition; the activation energy of the motional modes of this secondary relaxation is in the range between 35 and 100 kJ mol^?1. The glass transition temperature of polysulfone provided by the TSDC technique is T _M = T _g = 176 °C (at 4 °C min^?1). The relaxation time at this temperature is τ(T _g) = 33 s and the fragility index was found to be m = 91. Our results are compared with literature values obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis and by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The amorphous polysulfone was also characterized by DSC; a glass transition signal with an onset at T _on = 185.5 ± 0.3 °C (heating rate 10 °C min^?1) was detected, with ΔC _p = 0.21 ± 0.01 J g^?1 °C^?1.     

NMR study of deuterium molybdenum bronze

The deuterium NMR lineshape and spin—lattice relaxation time, T₁, have been measured in deuterium molybdenum bronze, D_1.6MoO₃, over the temperature range 166–400 K. The ²D quadrupole coupling constant is 21 kHz at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the ²D T₁ has been interpreted in terms of two independent motional processes for deuterium. The data suggest that one of the processes corresponds to diffusion of the ²D nuclei whereas the other may arise from a 180° flipping of the OD₂ moieties. This specific interpretation agrees with the results obtained for proton T₁ and proton lineshape data reported earlier.     

High-Resolution Solid-State NMR Characterization of Morphology in Annealed Polylactic Acid

Single-pulse ¹³C NMR spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H), detected indirectly via ¹³C carbons, and T₁(¹³C) were measured at 31°C for virgin pelletized and annealed polylactic acid (PLA) samples using the magic-angle spinning technique. The structural relaxation resulting in more regular crystals with narrower conformation distribution and increase in the lamellae thickness and crystallinity brought about by annealing at 100°C was deduced from the narrowing of the ¹³C NMR lines and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹H). The spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(¹³C) related to the respective carbons of the α-polymorph of PLA are also discussed in the study.     

Gelation Studies, 3

Summary: The sol‐gel transition of one thermoreversible gelling mixture made of xanthan gum and locust bean gum has been studied by using in situ time‐resolved dynamic light scattering (DLS) and measuring the spin‐lattice relaxation time T₁ of several protons. A critical dynamical behavior was observed near the sol‐gel transition, which is characterized by the presence of power‐law spectra over four decades of the delay time in the time‐intensity correlation function g₂(t)−1 ∼ t^−μ at 48 °C. The increase in T₁ with increasing temperature becomes steeper at 50 °C indicating a significant change in the local mobility of one anomeric proton of the xanthan side chain and the anomeric protons of the locust bean gum mannose backbone.

Temperature dependence of the spin‐lattice relaxation time T₁ for the equatorial anomeric proton of the mannopyranosic unit located next to the main chain of the xanthan.     

A method for obtaining potential parameters for helium from T1 measurements

The temperature dependence of T₁ for ³He gas in the range 0–4°K is calculated for a Lennard-Jones (12,6) potential. The relaxation of the nuclear spins is assumed to be due to a dipolar interaction between the nuclei. A minimum value in the relaxation time, T_1,min, is found to occur at a temperature denoted by T_min. By repeating the calculation for different pairs of values of the potential parameters ? and σ, we have found that for a density of 10^?2 g/cm³,σ²T_min = 13.0?1.12 × 10³ ?σ², T_1,min/σ²(T_min)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 17.4?6.56 × 10² ?σ², with ?, σ, T_min and T_1,min in eV, Å, °K and minutes, respectively. From measurements of T_min and T_1,min, ? and σ can be determined.     

Paramagnetic ion binding to amino acids,structural and dynamical information on a Mn(II) complex of L-proline from 13C relaxation data

The ¹³C relaxation times (T₁ and T₂) and isotropic contact shift (Δω) of 1.28 molar aqueous solutions of L-Proline at pH = 11 (or pD = 11.4) containing 10^?4 - 10^?5 M manganese perchlorate are measured at 62.86 MHz over a temperature range of 28–80°C. Under these conditions, the Mn²⁺ cation is bound to three L-Proline molecules in their dibasic form, and a fast exchange is occurring between bound and bulk L-Proline molecules. The longitudinal relaxation of carbons α, β, γ, δ of L-Proline molecules in this complex is shown to be purely dipolar, and is controlled by the rotational reorientation of the complex. The transverse relaxation of bound L-Proline molecules is mainly scalar and is controlled by the electronic relaxation. Overall relaxation rates and paramagnetic shifts also depend on the ligand exchange rate k_M (from bound to free sites) at lower temperatures. The measurement of these quantities allow us to determine (i) the structure of the complex: the Mn(II) cation may be positioned with respect to each proline ligand, the sites of coordination are the unchanged nitrogen and one carboxylic atom, the distance to the Mn²⁺ cation are respectively 2.08 and 1.97 Å; (ii) Hyperfine coupling constants: A= + 0.16; 0.08; 0.25 and 0.22 MHz for carbons α, β, γ, δ, respectively. (iii) Electronic relaxation parameters: assuming that T_1e ( = 2.18 x 10^?8 s at 25°C) is controlled by the modulation of the quadratic crystalline zero-field splitting interaction allows us to estimate the trace of the corresponding tensor: Δ = 0.0305 cm^?1, and a correlation time τν(25°C) = 1.32 ps for the impact of solvent molecules against the Mn²⁺-L-Proline complex (iv) Kinetic parameters for ligand exchange: k_M(25°C) = 7.41 x 10⁴s^?1; ΔH³ = 15.6 kcal.mol.^?1; ΔS³ = 16.1 e.u.     

Magic angle carbon-13 NMR study of solid poly(ethylene naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate)

Amorphous (1) and semicrystalline (2) samples of poly(ethylene naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate) (PEN) have been investigated by cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) ¹³C NMR at 26°C (1 and 2), 100°C (1) and 120°C (2) in order to study the phase structure and the local motion of polymer chain segments at temperatures below and close to T_g (120°C). The lineshape of the ethylene unit ¹³C signal in sample 2 is consistent with the presence of two components which were assigned to trans and gauche conformations. The first component arises mainly from the crystalline regions and the second one from the amorphous part. Cross-polarization curves were traced by changing the contact time between carbon and proton reservoirs. T_CH (cross relaxation time) and proton T_1p (spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame) values were obtained as best fit parameters by fitting calculated curves to the experimental data. All ¹³C NMR data are consistent with the presence of highly rigid ethylene units in both semicrystalline and amorphous samples within the temperature range (T) investigated. This result is in disagreement with the ¹H NMR wide line spectra which showed a noticeable narrowing of the linewidth with increasing temperature in the same range, hence indicating a great mobility of the chain segments. To account for this discrepancy a qualitative model based on the existence of two distinct dynamic regions, one where motion is highly restricted and the other one where large reorientations of ethylene group torsional angles take place, is suggested. The NMR results led to the conclusion that three structural phases are present in PEN: crystalline, very rigid amorphous, and very mobile amorphous. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Proton NMR studies of lanthanum nickel hydride: Structure and diffusion

The proton magnetic resonance spectrum of lanthanum nickel hydride LaNi_5.3H₆ was measured over the temperature range 118°K < T < 300°K. The second moment of the absorption at 118°K is M₂ = 13.4 ± 0.3 G². Several possible arrangements of the hydrogen atoms are discussed. Narrowing of the line above 140°K is analyzed in terms of proton diffusion and gives an activation enthalpy E = 21 ± 1 kJ mol^?1, NMR correlation time pre-exponential 0.2 ps < τ_c⁰ < 1.6 ps and a self diffusion coefficient at 300°K of 2 × 10^?12 m² s^?1 < D < 2 × 10^?11 m² s^?1.     

A proton spin relaxation study of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Here we present and analyse N.M.R. measurements of the Larmor frequency dependence (dispersion) of the longitudinal proton spin relaxation time, T ₁(v), for two chiral ferroelectric mesogens (Merck IS-1912 and DOBAMBC) in the isotropic, smectic A and smectic C* phases, making use of fast field cycling techniques. Although in the low frequency range the relaxation times of IS-1912 are much shorter than those of DOBAMBC, the form of the dispersion profiles is not basically different for the two materials. This reveals contributions by smectic order fluctuations, self-diffusion and molecular rotations. The order fluctuation term, which means relaxation by collective molecular reorientations, is clearly seen by characteristic dispersion profiles in the kHz regime (T ₁ ～ v ¹ or T ₁ ～ v ^1/2), which disappear in the isotropic phase. Our results do not indicate significant dissimilarities between the main relaxation processes in the S_C and S*_C mesophases.     

Temperature-dependent AC electrical conductivity,thermal stability and different DC conductivity modelling of novel poly(vinyl cinnamate)/zinc oxide nanocomposites

Thermal analysis on organically modified Ca²⁺-montmorillonite (OMON) and its source materials—octadecylamine (ODA) and Ca²⁺-montmorillonite (Ca²⁺-Mon)—was studied using thermally stimulated current (TSC) technique. The appearance of ρ _MON peak with the T _max = 75 °C shows the ability of the developed TSC system to demonstrate the relaxation effects of dehydration in Ca²⁺-Mon. It appeared within the temperature range of DSC endothermic peak (30–100 °C) where the T _mMON = 58 °C. Segmental motions of ODA chains and structural disruptions in the modifier agent compound produced TSC α _ODA, ρ _ODA and ρ _1ODA peaks that are comparable to thermal transition and endothermic peaks in DSC profile (T _gODA, T _m1ODA and T _m2ODA). The effect of localized motion in ODA chains as revealed by the TSC β_OMON peak (T _max = ?23 °C), however, is absent in the DSC profile of OMON. It shows TSC technique has high sensitivity in detecting various relaxation behaviors at molecular level. More evidences are demonstrated by the ρ _OMON (T _max = 86 °C) and ρ _1OMON (T _max = 105 °C) peak originated from the ODA chains structures. These peaks also confirm the intercalation of the modifier cations inside the Ca²⁺-Mon gallery.     

Investigating the New Interaction Model between Cu(II) and PVA by the Proton Relaxation Method

An aqueous PVA-Cu²⁺ solution at pH = 3 is in the hydrated form and becomes green at pH ? 6 with a decrease in viscosity. The structure of the copper ion is suggested to be that of a polynuclear complex at pH > 6. For the green solution the polynuclear chains of the copper complex are believed to be surrounded by the PVA chains with the hydrophobic backbones facing toward the inside and the hydrophilic OH groups oriented toward the outside facing the bulk water. The proton spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T_1p and the spin-spin relaxation rate 1/T₂ of CH and CH₂ in PVA and H₂O for aqueous PVA-Cu²⁺ solutions at pH = 3, can be explained by the two site exchange model in the region of the fast exchange limit. The dipolar correlation time τ_c is dominated by the reorientational process with a dipolar correlation time of 2.11 × 10^?11 s. When the pH rises from pH=3 to pH=12.5, the variation of 1/T₁p and 1/T₂p of CH and CH₂ in PVA with Cu²⁺ ion concentration in aqueous PVA-Cu²⁺ solution at pH=12.5 can be explained in terms of the relaxation by an inclusive model of the polynuclear copper complex and PVA. Furthermore, the frequency (or field) dependence of 1/T₁p, 1/T₂p of CH in PVA for aqueous PVA-Cu²⁺ solution at pH = 12.5 suggests that the dipolar relaxation is dominated by the electron-spin relaxation with the electron spin relaxation time T_1e = 1 ? 2 × 10^?10 s. The invariance of 1/T₁p and 1/T₂p of H₂O with the variation of the Cu²⁺ ion concentration in aqueous PVA-Cu²⁺ solution at pH = 12.5 supports the hypothesis that the water is not directly bound to the Cu²⁺ ion.     

On the mechanism of conductivity of ammonium salts

The conductivities of HSO₄^?-doped (NH₄)₂SO₄ (AS) and NH₄H₂PO₄ (ADP) crystals are investigated in the temperature range 25°?180°C. The mobility of the charge carriers (protons) is thermally activated and is expressed in accordance with the relation μ = 0.16 exp(?0.49) eV/kT and μ = 0.80 exp(?0.54 eV/kT)cm² V^?1 sec^?1 for AS and ADP crystals, respectively. Three-stage mechanism of proton transport in the lattice of ammonium salt is suggested: (1) formation of the charge carrier NH₄⁺ + X^? → NH₃ + HX, (2) reorientation of the protonated anion HX → XH, and (3) proton jump to the neighbor anion XH + X^? → X^? + HX. The activation energy for mobility is close to that for dielectric relaxation process, i.e., the only thermally activated stage in the mobility process is reorientation of the protonated anion. This very stage is also the rate-determining in the mobility as it is seen from the comparison of the correlation time for proton diffusion and the dielectric relaxation time. These experimental results are in good agreement with the known proton dynamic data in KDP-type ferroelectric crystals.     

Oxidative Conversion of a Europium(II)‐Based T1 Agent into a Europium(III)‐Based paraCEST Agent that can be Detected In Vivo by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The Eu^II complex of 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid (DOTA) tetra(glycinate) has a higher reduction potential than most Eu^II chelates reported to date. The reduced Eu^II form acts as an efficient water proton T₁ relaxation reagent, while the Eu^III form acts as a water‐based chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agent. The complex has extremely fast water exchange rate. Oxidation to the corresponding Eu^III complex yields a well‐defined signal from the paraCEST agent. The time course of oxidation was studied in vitro and in vivo by T₁‐weighted and CEST imaging.     

Magnetic superexchange involving the oxygen-sulfur-oxygen pathway of the sulfate ion: A Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility study of Fe(2,9-di-CH3-phenanthroline) SO4

Zero-field Mössbauer spectra of powder samples of Fe(2,9-di-CH₃-phenanthroline) SO₄ over the range 1.7 to 300°K show a large (～ 3.6 mm/sec) temperature-independent quadrupole splitting corresponding to an orbital singlet ground term. The chemical isomer shift, δ_FE=O, is 1.16 mm/sec (source and absorber at 4.2°K) corresponding to six coordinate high-spin iron (II). Below 4.2°K, the compound exhibits magnetic hyperfine splitting suggesting slow relaxation and the possibility of long-range three-dimensional magnetic ordering with a critical temperature T_c such that 3.5°K < T_c < 4.2°K and an internal hyperfine field H_n = 325 kG at 1.69°K. High-field Mössbauer spectra at 300°K indicate that the principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is positive and axial. Similar spectra at 4.2°K show an absence of nuclear Zeeman splitting for applied fields up to 60 kG, and indicate that at 4.2°K the material is rapidly relaxing but with substantial magnetic polarization and a negative internal hyperfine field. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility confirms antiferromagnetic interactions with a broad maximum χ′_M at ～ 11.8°K presumably due to low-dimensionality exchange interactions (possibly one) along MOSOM chains. Least-squares fits of χ′_M^?1 versus T for T50°K indicate (Curie-Weiss behavior with C = 3.26 emu/mole, θ = -21.95°K, and μ_eff = 5.11.     

Pulsed NMR study of proton mobility in a hydrogen tungsten bronze

Crystalline hydrogen tungsten bronze H_0.46WO₃ was prepared by reduction of WO₃ single crystals. NMR relaxation times T₂, T₁, and T_1? were measured for 80 K < T < 450 K at 16 MHz and second moments for 160 K < T < 450 K at 100 MHz. The relaxation data were analyzed in terms of proton diffusion to give an activation energy of about 16 kJ mole^?1 and a correlation time preexponential factor of about 70 nsec for the process.     

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.     

Solid-state NMR study of biodegradable starch/polycaprolactone blends

Abundant literature exists on starch or modified starch blended with biodegradable polyesters to achieve good performance with cheap compost plastics. The level of miscibility in these blends is one of the most relevant parameters. In the present study, solid-state ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, as well as carbon spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(C) and proton spin-lattice relaxation times T₁(H) and proton spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame T_1ρ(H) of biodegradable starch (or starch formate)/polycaprolactone (PCL) (or polyester (PE) oligomers) blends and samples of the neat components were measured. From the T_1ρ(H) and T₁(H) relaxation times it follows that blends starch/PCL, starch/PE-oligomers and starch formate/PE-oligomers are phase separated even on the scale of 20-110 nm. On the contrary starch formate/PCL blend is phase separated on the scale 2.5-12 nm but homogeneously mixed on the scale 20-90 nm. Moreover, shorter T₁(C) and especially T_1ρ(H) values found for the starch or starch formate component in all these blends in comparison with neat samples show that molecular mobility of starch and starch formate segments is affected by blending. This indicates some miscibility also in phase separated blends which can happen in amorphous channels of starch.