Iterative Lineshape Fitting of MAS NMR Spectra: A Tool to Investigate HomonuclearJCoupling in Isolated Spin Pairs

Possibilities and limitations of iterative lineshape fitting procedures of MAS NMR spectra of isolated homonuclear spin pairs, aiming at determination of magnitudes and orientations of the various interaction tensors, are explored. Requirements regarding experimental MAS NMR spectra as well as simulation and fitting procedures are discussed. Our examples chosen are the isolated³¹P spin pairs in solid Na₄P₂O₇· 10H₂O, (1), and Cd(NO₃)₂· 2PPh₃, (2). In both cases the two³¹P chemical shielding tensors in the molecular unit are related byC₂symmetry, and determination of the orientations of these two tensors in the molecular frame is possible. In addition, aspects of homonuclearJcoupling will be addressed. For 1, both magnitude and sign of²J_iso(³¹P,³¹P) (J_iso= −19.5 ± 2.5 Hz) are obtained; for 2, (J_iso= +139 ± 3 Hz) anisotropy ofJwith an orientation of theJ-coupling tensor collinear, or nearly collinear, with the dipolar coupling tensor can be excluded, while absence or presence of anisotropy ofJwith any other relative orientation of theJ-coupling tensor cannot be determined.     

A Definitive Example of Aluminum-27 Chemical Shielding Anisotropy

Solid-state²⁷Al NMR spectra have been obtained for a crystalline 1:1 complex of AlCl₃and OPCl₃. Aluminum chloride phosphoryl chloride, AlCl₃· OPCl₃(1), is unusual in that the Al–O–P bond angle is close to 180°. From analysis of the²⁷Al MAS NMR spectra, it was determined that the²⁷Al nuclear quadrupole coupling constant is 6.0(1) MHz, the asymmetry in the electric field gradient (efg) tensor is 0.15(2), and the isotropic chemical shift, δ_iso(²⁷Al), is 88(1) ppm. Solid-state²⁷Al NMR of a stationary sample reveals a line shape affected by a combination of anisotropic chemical shielding and second-order quadrupolar interactions. Analysis of this spectrum yields a chemical shift anisotropy of 60(1) ppm and orientations of the chemical shift and electric field gradient tensors in the molecular frame. Experimental results are compared with those calculated usingab initioHartree–Fock and density functional theory.     

A simple method for analyzing 51V solid-state NMR spectra of complex systems

Five vanadium complexes as models for biological systems were investigated using ⁵¹V-MAS–NMR spectroscopy. All spectra show an uncommon line shape, which can be attributed to a shorter relaxation time of the satellite transition in contrast to the central one. A method for the reliable analysis of such kind of spectra is presented for the first time and the most important NMR parameters of the investigated complexes (quadrupolar coupling constant C_Q, asymmetry of the EFG tensor η_Q, isotropic chemical shift δ_iso, chemical shift anisotropy δ_σ and asymmetry of the CSA tensor η_σ) are presented. These results are of particular importance with respect to the analysis of the ⁵¹V-MAS–NMR spectra of vanadium moieties in biological matrices such as vanadium chloroperoxidase, which show hitherto unexplained low intensity of the satellite sideband pattern.     

NMR study of heterogeneity in pyridine-N-oxide...HCl crystal

An origin of narrow ¹H NMR signals in pyridine-N-oxide (PyO)...HCl crystal has been investigated by means of MAS, SPEDAS, NOESY and COSY techniques. Spectra of crystalline samples are compared with those of solid phase obtained from liquid PyO...HCl solutions (in acetonitile/H₂O) after the heterogeneous phase separation. It has been concluded that partially resolved peaks in ¹H NMR spectra of solids are related with heterogeneity of spin system and presence of different H-bond clusters of water molecules. NOESY spectra show no cross-peaks even at very long mixing time (500 ms). This indicates there is no exchange process between spins causing different peaks, and thus the corresponding molecular aggregates are captured in “islands of mobility8 without any channels sufficient for exchange. Appearance of MAS side bands as “pseudo8 cross-peaks in 2D NMR spectra using MAS/COSY technique is reported. In the case of accidental coincidence of spinning frequency (ω _MAS ) with spectral distances between some diagonal signals, intensive non-diagonal peaks are observed at the corresponding cross-positions. A misleading conclusion concerning spin coupling is easy to avoid using various ω _MAS . This work is dedicated to Professor Robert Blinc on the occasion of his 70^th birthday.     

Bulk magnetization and 1H NMR spectra of magnetically heterogeneous model systems

Bulk magnetization and ¹H static and magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of two magnetically heterogeneous model systems based on laponite (LAP) layered silicate or polystyrene (PS) with low and high proton concentration, respectively, and ferrimagnetic Fe₂O₃ nano- or micro-particles have been studied. In LAP+Fe₂O₃, a major contribution to the NMR signal broadening is due to the dipolar coupling between the magnetic moments of protons and magnetic particles. In PS+Fe₂O₃, due to the higher proton concentration in polystyrene and stronger proton–proton dipolar coupling, an additional broadening is observed, i.e. ¹H MAS NMR spectra of magnetically heterogeneous systems are sensitive to both proton–magnetic particles and proton–proton dipolar couplings. An increase of the volume magnetization by ～1 emu/cm³ affects the ¹H NMR signal width in a way that is similar to an increase of the proton concentration by ～2×10²²/cm³. ¹H MAS NMR spectra, along with bulk magnetization measurements, allow the accurate determination of the hydrogen concentration in magnetically heterogeneous systems.     

Effect of alkali-earth ions on the local structure of LaAlO3-La0.67A0.33MnO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) diluted solid solutions: 27Al NMR studies

²⁷Al magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was studied for diluted alkali earth metal-doped lanthanum manganite solid solutions in the lanthanum aluminate (1 − y)LaAlO₃-yLa_0.67 A _0.33MnO₃ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) with y =0, 2, 3, and 5 mol %. The spectra depended on the dopant species and showed higher substitutional ordering for the Ba-containing mixed crystals. Magnetically shifted lines were observed in all solid solutions and were attributed to Al in the octahedral oxygen environment near manganese trivalent ions. Nonlinear dependences of their intensity were referred to the manganese-rich cluster formation. An additional MAS NMR line corresponding to aluminum at sites different from the octahedral site in pure LaAlO₃ was observed only in solutions doped with Ba. 3Q MAS NMR revealed that the broadening of this line is governed mainly by quadrupole coupling and made it possible to calculate the isotropic chemical shift. The article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Solid-state NMR investigations of Si-29 and N-15 enriched silicon nitride

We compare ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra from the two modifications of silicon nitride, α-Si₃N₄ and β-Si₃N₄, with that of a fully (²⁹Si, ¹⁵N)-enriched sample ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄, as well as ¹⁵N NMR spectra of Si₃¹⁵N₄ (having ²⁹Si at natural abundance) and ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄. We show that the ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths from the latter are dominated by J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) through-bond interactions, leading to significantly broader NMR signals compared to those of Si₃¹⁵N₄. By fitting calculated ²⁹Si NMR spectra to experimental ones, we obtained an estimated coupling constant J(²⁹Si–¹⁵N) of 20 Hz. We provide ²⁹Si spin-lattice (T₁) relaxation data for the ²⁹Si₃¹⁵N₄ sample and chemical shift anisotropy results for the ²⁹Si site of β-Si₃N₄. Various factors potentially contributing to the ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N NMR peak-widths of the various silicon nitride specimens are discussed. We also provide powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mass spectrometry data of the samples.     

13C NMR of tunnelling methyl groups

The dipolar interactions between the protons and the central ¹³C nucleus of a ¹³CH₃ group are used to study rotational tunnelling and incoherent dynamics of such groups in molecular solids. Single-crystal ¹³C NMR spectra are derived for arbitrary values of the tunnel frequency ν_t. Similarities to ESR and ²H NMR are pointed out. The method is applied to three different materials. In the hydroquinone/acetonitrile clathrate, the unique features in the ¹³C NMR spectra which arise from tunnelling with a tunnel frequency that is much larger than the dipolar coupling between the methyl protons and the ¹³C nucleus are demonstrated, and the effects of incoherent dynamics are studied. The broadening of the ¹³C resonances is related to the width of the quasi-elastic line in neutron scattering. Selective magnetization transfer experiments for studying slow incoherent dynamics are proposed. For the strongly hindered methyl groups of L-alanine, an upper limit for ν_t is derived from the ¹³C NMR spectrum. In aspirin? (acetylsalicylic acid), incoherent reorientations dominate the spectra down to the lowest temperatures studied; their rate apparently increases with decreasing temperature below 25 K.     

1H MAS, 13C CP/MAS, and 2H NMR spectra studies of piperidinium {\emph{p}}-chlorobenzoate

Anomalous H/D isotope effects were detected in the ¹H MAS NMR spectra of piperidinium p-chlorobenzoate (C₅H₁₀NH $_{2}{^{+}}\cdot $ ClC₆H₄COO^???) upon deuterium substitution of hydrogen atoms which form two kinds of N-H?O H-bonds in the crystal; in contrast to these spectra, only slight chemical shifts were recorded in ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra. ²H NMR spectrum of the deuterated sample show quadrupole coupling constants of 148 and 108 kHz, and reveal that there are a few motions contributing to the electric-field modulation of the ²H nucleus. The ¹H MAS NMR spectra of piperidinium p-chlrobenzoate-d ₁₆ (C₅D₁₀ND $_{2}{^{+}}\cdot $ ClC₆D₄COO^???) and -d ₁₄ (C₅D₁₀NH $_{2}{^{+}}\cdot $ ClC₆D₄COO^???) revealed that the change in the envelope is caused by chemical shifts of each signal upon deuteration. Calculations based on the density-functional-theory showed that the N-H distance along the crystallographic a-axis mainly contributes to the anomalous isotope effects on ¹H MAS NMR envelopes.     

More line narrowing in TROSY by decoupling of long-range couplings: shift correlation and JNC′ coupling constant measurements

Since the introduction of RDCs in high-resolution NMR studies of macromolecules, there is a growing interest in the development of accurate, and sensitive methods for determining coupling constants. Most methods for extracting these couplings are based on the measurement of the splitting between multiplet components in J-coupled spectra. However, these methods are often unreliable since undesired multiple-bond couplings can considerably broaden the multiplet components and consequently make accurate determination of their position difficult. To demonstrate one approach to this problem, G-BIRD^(r) decoupled TROSY sequences are proposed for the measurement of ¹J_NH and ¹J_NC′ coupling constants. Resolved or unresolved splittings due to remote protons are removed by a G-BIRD^(r) module employed during t₁ and as a result, spectra with narrow, well-resolved peaks are obtained from which heteronuclear one-bond couplings can be accurately measured. Moreover, introduction of a spin-state-selective α/β-filter in the TROSY sequence allows the separation of the ¹J_NC′ doublet components into two subspectra which contain the same number of peaks as the regular TROSY spectrum. The ¹J_NC′ couplings are obtained from the displacement between the corresponding peaks in the subspectra.     

Solid-State Rb NMR Study in Powdered RbMnCl3

Structural phase transition at 290 K and the implication on the intermediate phase above 290 K in powdered RbMnCl₃ are observed by using a solid-state ⁸⁷Rb NMR spectroscopy. Quadrupole coupling constants (e²qQ/h), the asymmetry parameters (η), and the relative peak intensities for two physically nonequivalent Rb sites, Rb(I) and Rb(II), are determined from nonlinear least-squares fits to the ⁸⁷Rb NMR powder patterns in the temperature range from 260 to 330 K. Quadrupole coupling constants and the asymmetry parameters are examined for the detection of the phase transition resulting in a significant structural change in the Rb(II) site. In addition, changes in the relative peak intensity between the Rb(I) and Rb(II) sites seem to suggest the existence of an anomalous intermediate phase, which is complemented by the differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies.     

Quadrupole and paramagnetic interactions of 27Al nuclei in mixed yttrium-dysprosium-aluminum garnets Y3−x DyxAl5O12

An ²⁷Al NMR study of mixed yttrium-dysprosium-aluminum garnets Y_3−x Dy _x Al₅O₁₂ is reported for x=0, 0.15, 0.50, 0.64, and 1.00. The quadrupole coupling parameters for the a and d aluminum sites have been determined. The spectra have been theoretically calculated with inclusion of the paramagnetic shift induced by Dy³⁺ ions. An analysis of the NMR line shape has permitted a conclusion that there is no substitutional order in the mixed crystals under study. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 1047–1051 (June 1998)     

Molecular dynamics and information on possible sites of interaction of intramyocellular metabolites in vivo from resolved dipolar couplings in localized H NMR spectra

Proton NMR resonances of the endogenous metabolites creatine and phosphocreatine ((P)Cr), taurine (Tau), and carnosine (Cs, β-alanyl-l-histidine) were studied with regard to residual dipolar couplings and molecular mobility. We present an analysis of the direct ¹H–¹H interaction that provides information on motional reorientation of subgroups in these molecules in vivo. For this purpose, localized ¹H NMR experiments were performed on m. gastrocnemius of healthy volunteers using a 1.5-T clinical whole-body MR scanner. We evaluated the observable dipolar coupling strength SD₀ (S = order parameter) of the (P)Cr-methyl triplet and the Tau-methylene doublet by means of the apparent line splitting. These were compared to the dipolar coupling strength of the (P)Cr-methylene doublet. In contrast to the aliphatic protons of (P)Cr and Tau, the aromatic H2 (δ = 8 ppm) and H4 (δ = 7 ppm) protons of the imidazole ring of Cs exhibit second-order spectra at 1.5 T. This effect is the consequence of incomplete transition from Zeeman to Paschen-Back regime and allows a determination of SD₀ from H2 and H4 of Cs as an alternative to evaluating the multiplet splitting which can be measured directly in high-resolution ¹H NMR spectra. Experimental data showed striking differences in the mobility of the metabolites when the dipolar coupling constant D₀ (calculated with the internuclear distance known from molecular geometry in the case of complete absence of molecular dynamics and motion) is used for comparison. The aliphatic signals involve very small order parameters S ≈ (1.4 − 3) × 10⁻⁴ indicating rapid reorientation of the corresponding subgroups in these metabolites. In contrast, analysis of the Cs resonances yielded S ≈ (113 − 137) × 10⁻⁴. Thus, the immobilization of the Cs imidazole ring owing to an anisotropic cellular substructure in human m. gastrocnemius is much more effective than for (P)Cr and Tau subgroups. Furthermore, ¹H NMR experiments on aqueous model solutions of histidine and N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA) enabled the assignment of an additional signal component at δ = 8 ppm of Cs in vivo to the amide group at the peptide bond. The visibility of this proton could result from hydrogen bonding which would agree with the anticipated stronger motional restriction of Cs. Referring to the observation that all dipolar-coupled multiplets resolved in localized in vivo ¹H NMR spectra of human m. gastrocnemius collapse simultaneously when the fibre structure is tilted towards the magic angle (θ ≈ 55°), a common model for molecular confinement in muscle tissue is proposed on the basis of an interaction of the studied metabolites with myocellular membrane phospholipids.     

New determination of quadrupole coupling constants of Li isotopes in single crystals LiIO3 andLiNbO3

Quadrupole effects in NMR spectra of⁸Li(I =2⁺;T _1/2=0.84 s) in LiIO₃ andLiNbO₃ single crystals have been detected by use of a modified -NMR. The coupling constants for both crystals are in agreement with known ones. Field gradients in the crystals were measured by detecting pulsed-Fourier transformed NMR of⁷Li. The quadrupole moments deduced from both samples agree, and|Q(⁸Li; 2⁺)|=32.7±0.6 mb has been determined.     

A molecular beam Fourier transform microwave study of 2-methylpyridine and its complex with argon: structure,methyl internal rotation and 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling

The rotational spectrum of 2-methylpyridine (α-picoline, CH₃C₅H₄N) in the two lowest levels of methyl internal rotation (m=0, ±1) has been recorded in the frequency range from 2 to 15 GHz using a molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The high resolution and sensitivity of this spectroscopic technique allowed resolution of hyperfine structures due to ^l4N nuclear quadrupole coupling with high accuracy and detection of the spectra of the ¹⁵N- and all ¹³C-isotopomers. These investigations considerably extend the results from an earlier study on the normal species (Dreizler, H., Rudolph, H. D., and Mader, H., 1970, Z. Naturforsch., 25a, 25); improved rotational and centrifugal distortion constants as well as all components of the ¹⁴N quadrupole coupling tensor have been obtained. Analysis of the spectra of the isotopomers yielded the ^I4N quadrupole coupling constants χ _cc and χ _aa – χ _bb (for the ¹³C species), the potential parameter V ₃ for the barrier hindering the internal rotation of the methyl group, and, in particular, r_o, r_s r _m ⁽¹⁾ and r _m ⁽²⁾ structural parameters for the molecule. In addition to the microwave studies on the monomer, we have also investigated the rotational spectrum of the weakly bound dimer of normal 2-methylpyridine with Ar. The results obtained for the quadrupole coupling constants and the hindering potential for the internal methyl rotation show that the corresponding parameters are not significantly, or only slightly, changed in the complex.     

Structural Assignment of Stilbenethiols and Chalconethiols and Differentiation of Their Isomeric Derivatives by Means of 1H‐ and 13C‐NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract

The ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra of some substituted stilbenes and chalcones were assigned unambiguously on the basis of a combination of homo‐ (COSY) and heteronuclear (HETCOR) two‐dimensional methods, the chemical shifts, as well as spin‐coupling constants. The A_ik empirical parameters of the –O–C(S)–N(CH₃)₂, –S–C(O)–N(CH₃)₂, and –SH group were calculated to help predict the chemical shifts of substituted stilbenes, 4′‐nitrostilbenes, and chalcones. The ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra have been shown to be able to differentiate between the isomers of O‐stilbenyl (4, 5) and S‐stilbenyl N,N‐dimethylthiocarbamates (7, 8) as well as O‐chalconyl (6) and S‐chalconyl N,N‐dimethylthiocarbamates (9).     

Isotope Effects on theO,H Coupling Constant and theO–{H} Nuclear Overhauser Effect in Water

The NMR spectra of solutions of 30%¹⁷O-enriched H₂O and D₂O in nitromethane display the resonances of the three isotopomers H₂O, HDO, and D₂O. All¹⁷O,¹H and¹⁷O,²H coupling constants and the primary and secondary isotope effects onJ(¹⁷O,¹H) have been determined. The primary effect is −1.0 ± 0.2 Hz and the secondary effect is −0.07 ± 0.04 Hz. Using integrated intensities in the¹⁷O NMR spectra, the equilibrium constant for the reaction H₂O + D₂O 2HDO is found to be 3.68 ± 0.2 at 343 K. From the relative integrated intensities of proton-coupled and -decoupled spectra the¹⁷O–{¹H} NOE is estimated for the first time, resulting in values of 0.908 and 0.945 for H₂O and HDO, respectively. This means that dipole–dipole interactions contribute about 2.5% to the overall¹⁷O relaxation rate in H₂O dissolved in nitromethane.     

2H NMR studies for the examination of methyl group rotations between their classical and quantum mechanical limits

²H NMR spectra of copper acetate monohydrate [Cu(CD₃CO₂)₂]·H₂O, hexamethylbenzene-d₁₈ and acetone-d₆ were analyzed to characterize methyl group rotations between their classical and quantum mechanical limits. The temperature dependent spectra show the three different possible developments of the lineshapes. Hexamethylbenzene is typical of compounds with small but resolvable tunnelling frequencies. Characteristic splittings in the spectra of copper acetate monohydrate reveal the temperature dependence of tunnelling frequencies that are slightly larger than the quadrupole coupling constant. While the tunnelling frequency of acetone is already too large to be specified from²H NMR lineshape analysis at temperatures low enough that quantum effects influence the spectra, the temperature dependent spectra deviate characteristically from those found for classical rotation. Additionally to these experimental results, we outline how from an NMR point of view mixed classical and quantum rotations can be described by a single complex frequency.     

Al Multiple-Quantum MAS NMR of Mechanically Treated Bayerite (α-Al(OH)3) and Silica Mixtures

Two-dimensional ²⁷Al multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) NMR experiments are used to study mixtures of bayerite (α-Al(OH)₃) with either silicic acid (SiO₂.nH₂O) or silica gel (SiO₂) that have been ground together for varying lengths of time. This mechanical treatment produces changes in the ²⁷Al MAS and MQMAS NMR spectra that correspond to the formation of new Al species. Mean values of the quadrupolar interaction (P_Q) and isotropic chemical shift (δ_CS) are extracted from the two-dimensional ²⁷Al NMR spectra for each of these species. The presence of significant distributions of both ²⁷Al quadrupolar and chemical shift parameters is demonstrated and the effect of grinding duration on the magnitudes of these distributions is discussed.     

Measurement of Magnitude and Sign of Heteronuclear Coupling Constants in Transition Metal Complexes

Sets of specifically tailored E.COSY-type correlation experiments and double-quantum/zero-quantum (DQ/ZQ) experiments are presented which enable the determination of sign and size of small heteronuclear coupling constants across the metal center of transition metal complexes. For the octahedrally coordinated complexes, [Ru(TPM)(H)(CO)(PPh₃)]⁺[BF₄]⁻(1) and [Ir(TPM)(H)(CO)(CO₂CH₃)]⁺[BF₄]⁻(2), 14 of 15 and 15 of 15 possible two-bond scalar coupling constants across the metal center were measured, respectively, using¹⁵N and¹⁵N/¹³C enriched samples (TPM = tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane)). The reduced coupling constants²K_X-M-Y= 4π²²J/(hγ_Xγ_Y) were found to be positive when the coupled nuclei X and Y weretranswith respect to the metal center, and negative when the coupled nuclei were incisposition. The validity of this sign rule was verified forJ_CC,J_NN,J_PN,J_PC,J_CN,J_HP,J_HC, andJ_HNcouplings. Idiosyncracies associated with 2D NMR spectra for the sign determination of coupling constants with¹⁵N which lead to corrections for the signs ofJ_HN,J_PN, andJ_CNcouplings reported previously are discussed.