Electron spin relaxation by spin-rotation interaction in benzoyl and other acyl type radicals

In various studies of the spin dynamics in radical pairs, benzoyl-type radicals have been one of the two paramagnetic pair species. Their electron spin relaxation has been assumed to be slow enough to be neglected in the data analysis. This assumption is checked by measuring the electron spin relaxation in a sequence of three acyl radicals (benzoyl, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl and hexahydrobenzoyl) by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. In contrast to the assumed slow relaxation, rather short spin-lattice relaxation times (100–400 ns) are found for benzoyl and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl radicals from the decay of the integral initial electron polarization to thermal equilibrium at different temperatures and viscosities. The relaxation is induced by a spin-rotation coupling arising from two different types of radical movements: overall rotation of the whole radical and hindered internal rotation of the CO group. The predominant second contribution depends on the barrier of the internal rotation. The obtained results are well explained in the frame of Bull’s theory when using a modified rotational correlation time τ _J . The size of the spin-rotation coupling due to the internal CO group rotation in benzoyl radicals is estimated to be |C _α|=1510 MHz.     

The solution conformation of triarylmethyl radicals

Hyperfine coupling tensors to 1H, 2H, and natural abundance 13C were measured using X-band pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy for two triarylmethyl (trityl) radicals used in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging and oximetry: methyl tris(8-carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-benzo[1,2d:4,5-d']bis(1,3)dithiol-4-yl) and methyl tris(8-carboxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl(-d3)-benzo[1,2d:4,5-d']bis(1,3)dithiol-4-yl). Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory predict a structure that reproduces the experimentally determined hyperfine tensors. The radicals are propeller-shaped with the three aryl rings nearly mutually orthogonal. The central carbon atom carrying most of the unpaired electron spin density is surrounded by the sulfur atoms in the radical and is completely shielded from solvent. This structure explains features of the electron spin relaxation of these radicals and suggests ways in which the radicals can be chemically modified to improve their characteristics for imaging and oximetry.     

High-frequency and -field EPR and FDMRS study of the [Fe(H2O)6]2+ ion in ferrous fluorosilicate

The complex [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 is one of the most stable and best characterized high-spin Fe(II) salts and as such, is a paradigm for the study of this important transition metal ion. We describe high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance studies of both pure [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 and [Zn(H2O)6]SiF6 doped with 8% of Fe(II). In addition, frequency domain magnetic resonance spectroscopy was applied to these samples. High signal-to-noise, high resolution spectra were recorded which allowed an accurate determination of spin Hamiltonian parameters for Fe(II) in each of these two, related, environments. For pure [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6, the following parameters were obtained: D=+11.95(1) cm(-1), E=0.658(4) cm(-1), g=[2.099(4),2.151(5),1.997(3)], along with fourth-order zero-field splitting parameters: B4(0)=17(1)×10(-4) cm(-1) and B4(4)=18(4)×10(-4) cm(-1), which are rarely obtainable by any technique. For the doped complex, D=+13.42(1) cm(-1), E=0.05(1) cm(-1), g=[2.25(1),2.22(1),2.23(1)]. These parameters are in good agreement with those obtained using other techniques. Ligand-field theory was used to analyze the electronic absorption data for [Fe(H2O)6]SiF6 and suggests that the ground state is 5A1, which allows successful use of a spin Hamiltonian model. Density functional theory and unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations were performed which, in the case of latter, reproduced the spin Hamiltonian parameters very well for the doped complex.     

Spin hall edge spin polarization in a ballistic 2D electron system

Universal properties of the spin Hall effect in ballistic 2D electron systems are addressed. The net spin polarization across the edge of the conductor is second order, approximately lambda2, in spin-orbit coupling constant independent of the form of the boundary potential, with the contributions of normal and evanescent modes each being approximately radical lambda but of opposite signs. This general result is confirmed by the analytical solution for a hard-wall boundary, which also yields the detailed distribution of the local spin polarization. The latter shows fast (Friedel) oscillations with the spin-orbit coupling entering via the period of slow beatings only. Long-wavelength contributions of evanescent and normal modes exactly cancel each other in the spectral distribution of the local spin density.     

Determination of backbone angle psi in proteins using a TROSY-based alpha/beta-HN(CO)CA-J experiment

Transverse relaxation-optimized NMR experiment (TROSY) for the measurement of three-bond scalar coupling constant between (1)H(alpha)(i-1) and (15)N(i) defining the dihedral angle psi is described. The triple-spin-state-selective experiment allows measurement of (3)J(H(alpha)N) from (13)C(alpha), (15)N, and (1)H(N) correlation spectra H(2)O with minimum resonance overlap. Transverse relaxation of (13)C(alpha) spin is minimized by using spin-state-selective filtering and by acquiring a signal longer in (15)N-dimension in a manner of semi-constant-time TROSY evolution. The (3)J(H(alpha))(N) values obtained with the proposed alpha/beta-HN(CO)CA-J TROSY scheme are in good agreement with the values measured earlier from ubiquitin in D(2)O using the HCACO[N] experiment.     

The sign of the exchange interaction between triplet excited fullerene and nitroxide free radicals

The sign of the exchange interactionJ in a series of radical triplet pairs (RTPs), formed by a nitroxide free radical and a triplet excited fullerene, has been determined from the spin polarization of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. Radical and fullerene are linked together by covalent bonds in different geometries. It is shown that the sign ofJ depends on the overlap between the orbital of nitroxide unpaired electron and the LUMO of fullerene, which is singly occupied in the excited triplet state. When the overlap does not vanish, a negative contribution toJ arises from the admixing of a charge transfer structure in the wave function of the excited doublet state D* of the RTP, which does not take place in the excited quartet state Q*. The mixing of D* and Q* states lowers the energy of the former spin state and gives antiferromagnetic coupling.     

New techniques for the measurement of C'N and C'H(N) J coupling constants across hydrogen bonds in proteins

Two new two- or three-dimensional NMR methods for measuring (3h)J(C'N) and (2h)J(C'H) coupling constants across hydrogen bonds in proteins are presented. They are tailored to suit the size of the TROSY effect, i.e., the degree of interference between dipolar and chemical shift anisotropy relaxation mechanisms. The methods edit 2D or 3D spectra into two separate subspectra corresponding to the two possible spin states of the (1)H(N) spin during evolution of (13)CO coherences. This allows (2h)J(C'H) to be measured in an E.COSY-type way while (3h)J(C'N) can be measured in the so-called quantitative way provided a reference spectrum is also recorded. A demonstration of the new methods is shown for the (15)N,(13)C-labeled protein chymotrypsin inhibitor 2.     

Theg-tensor anisotropy of the triplet state of the primary electron donor in the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodobacter sphaeroides by high-field (95 GHz) EPR

The anisotropy of theg-tensor of the light-induced triplet state of the primary electron donor (D) of the photosynthetic bacteriumRhodobacter sphaeroides is determined by electron-spin-echo-detected electron paramagnetic resonance at 95 GHz. Measurements on frozen solutions of quinone-depleted reaction centers yield g-values along the principal directions of the zero-field splitting tensor (Norris J.R., Budil D.E., Gast P., Chang C.H., ElKabbani O., Schiffer M.: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86, 4335–4339, 1989).g-Values determined are: 2.00308, 2.00238, and 2.00138. The deviation from axial symmetry and thez-component of the g-tensor are smaller than observed in the cation radical of D.     

Identification and structural characterization of a transient radical species in the uricase reaction mechanism

Uricase catalyzes the oxidation of urate to form allantoin, carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide. In this article, we demonstrate for the first time the presence of a radical intermediate involved in the reaction mechanism. Such radical species was entrapped using 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide as spin trap and the relative adduct was detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. A structure of such radical (5-hydroperoxy isourate) is proposed, through chemical results and density functional theory calculations of the EPR coupling constants.     

15N Photo-CIDNP MAS NMR To Reveal Functional Heterogeneity in Electron Donor of Different Plant Organisms

In plants and cyanobacteria, two light-driven electron pumps, photosystems I and II (PSI, PSII), facilitate electron transfer from water to carbon dioxide with quantum efficiency close to unity. While similar in structure and function, the reaction centers of PSI and PSII operate at widely different potentials with PSI being the strongest reducing agent known in living nature. Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) in magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements provides direct excess to the heart of large photosynthetic complexes (A. Diller, Alia, E. Roy, P. Gast, H.J. van Gorkom, J. Zaanen, H.J.M. de Groot, C. Glaubitz, J. Matysik, Photosynth. Res. 84, 303–308, 2005; Alia, E. Roy, P. Gast, H.J. van Gorkom, H.J.M. de Groot, G. Jeschke, J. Matysik, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 12819–12826, 2004). By combining the dramatic signal increase obtained from the solid-state photo-CIDNP effect with ¹⁵N isotope labeling of PSI, we were able to map the electron spin density in the active cofactors of PSI and study primary charge separation at atomic level. We compare data obtained from two different PSI proteins, one from spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and other from the aquatic plant duckweed (Spirodella oligorrhiza). Results demonstrate a large flexibility of the PSI in terms of its electronic architecture while their electronic ground states are strictly conserved.     

End-to-end correlation for a C-12 hydrocarbon chain

The 19F nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate constants were measured as a function of magnetic field strength for 1,12-diaminododecane labeled at one end with a nitroxide radical and at the other with a trifluoromethyl group. The magnetic relaxation dispersion profile (MRD) reports the spectral density function appropriate to the end-to-end correlation function for the doubly labeled molecule. After extrapolation to zero concentration to eliminate the intermolecular relaxation contribution to relaxation, the resulting intramolecular MRD profile was compared with several model approaches. The rotational model for the spectral density functions as included in the Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan equations does not describe the data well. The earlier model of Freed for nuclear spin relaxation induced by a freely diffusing paramagnetic co-solute is not rigorous for this case because the paramagnet is tethered to the observed nuclear spin and only a restricted space in the immediate vicinity of the nuclear spin is accessible for pseudo-translational diffusion of one end of the molecule with respect to the other. A generalization of the Torrey model for magnetic relaxation by translational diffusion developed by Nevzorov and Freed, which includes the effect of restrictions imposed by the finite length of the chain, describes the experiment within experimental errors. A simple modification of the Hwang-Freed model that does not specifically include the dynamical effects of the finite tether also provides a good approximation to the data when the tether chain is sufficiently long.     

S(3)E-E.COSY methods for the measurement of (19)F associated scalar and dipolar coupling constants

A (1)H-(19)F spin state selective excitation (S(3)E) pulse sequence element has been applied in combination with (1)H homonuclear mixing to create E.COSY-type experiments designed to measure scalar J(HF2') and J(HH2') and residual dipolar D(HF2') and D(HH2') couplings in 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-sugars. The (1)H-(19)F S(3)E pulse sequence element, which resembles a simple INEPT sequence, achieves spin-state-selective correlation between geminal (1)H-(19)F spin pairs by linear combination of in-phase (19)F magnetization and anti-phase magnetization evolved from (1)H. Since the S(3)E sequence converts both (19)F and (1)H steady-state polarization into observable coherences, an approximately twofold signal increase is observed for fully relaxed (1)H-(19)F spin pairs with respect to a standard (1)H coupled (19)F 1D experiment. The improved sensitivity and resolution afforded by the use of (1)H-(19)F S(3)E E.COSY-type experiments for measuring couplings is demonstrated on the nucleoside 9-(2',3'-dideoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)adenine (beta-FddA) and on a selectively 2'-fluorine labeled 21mer RNA oligonucleotide.     

ESR, ENDOR, and ESEEM investigations on UV-irradiated 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl phenol crystals

Electron spin resonance (ESR), electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) measurements were carried out for UV-irradiated 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl phenol in the polycrystalline state. The radical produced in the crystal was detected by ESR and identified to be the corresponding phenoxyl radical, which is well characterized in the chemical oxidations in solutions. ENDOR and ESEEM spectra were unambiguously analyzed in terms of the hyperfine coupling constants determined from well-resolved ESR in solutions. Radical pairs in the crystals were also ascertained, and together with the single-crystal study the analysis disclosed zero-field splitting parameters in the triplet states. ESEEM time decays gave relaxation timesT ₁ = 5.94 andT ₂ = 1.12 μs at room temperature. These appropriate values permit an easy detection of the spin echoes, and therefore this radical matrix can be used as a useful standard for pulsed ESR investigations.     

Spin dynamics in the regime of hopping conductivity

Spin dynamics in the impurity band of a semiconductor with the spin-split spectrum is considered. Due to the splitting, phonon-assisted hops from one impurity to another axe accompanied by rotation of the electron spin, which leads to spin relaxation. The system is strongly inhomogeneous because of exponential variation of hopping times. However, at very small coupling an electron diffuses over a distance exceeding the characteristic scale of the inhomogeneity during the time of spin relaxation, so one can introduce an averaged spin relaxation rate. At larger values of coupling, the system is effectively divided into two subsystems: one where relaxation is very fast and another where relaxation is rather slow. In this case, spin decays due to the escape of the electrons from one subsystem to another. As a result, the spin dynamics is nonexponential and hardly depends on spin-orbit coupling. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Pulsed EPR study on large dynamic electron polarisation created in the quenching of photo-excited xanthene dyes by nitroxide radicals in aqueous solutions

Dynamic electron polarisation (DEP) produced by the quenching of dye molecules in the triplet excited states by nitroxide radicals was investigated in aqueous solutions by pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance and transient absorption spectroscopy. An analysis of the measured quenching rate constants suggests that quenching is promoted by either exchange or charge-transfer mechanisms for a triplet dye and a doublet radical pair. An unusually large DEP on the radical was found generated in the nitroxide and Eosin Y or Rose Bengal systems in aqueous solutions. Quantitative analysis indicates that the DEP values in aqueous solutions range from ?40 to ?150 in the unit of thermal spin polarisation, which is in contrast to previously reported small DEP values of less than ?10 for organic triplet molecules in benzene solutions [22–27,29,31,32]. From the theoretical analysis of DEP, an origin of this large DEP was attributed to the notably slow diffusion motion of Eosin Y and Rose Bengal in water.     

Theory of electric polarization in multiorbital Mott insulators

The interaction between the electric field E and spins in multiorbital Mott insulators is studied theoretically. We find a generic coupling mechanism, which works for all crystal lattices and which does not involve relativistic effects. It couples E to the "internal" electric field e originating from the dynamical Berry phase. We discuss several effects of this interaction: (i) an unusual electron spin resonance, (ii) the displacement of spin textures in an applied electric field, and (iii) the resonant absorption of circularly polarized light by Skyrmions, magnetic bubbles, and magnetic vortices.     

液体核磁共振中由分子间偶极耦合和分子内标量耦合共同作用后的谱图裂分模式

在高极化多自旋液体样品中,同时存在着分子间偶极（D）耦合和分子内标量（J）耦合,它们的共同作用产生了一些原来观测不到的分子间多量子相干信号。而且,信号的裂分模式与只存在J耦合的多自旋体系中观测到的多量子相干信号的裂分模式不同。本文从理论和实验上研究了这些禁阻的共振峰及其独特的裂分模式。为了比较验证,我们以I2S3+X自旋体系为例,结合使用选择和非选择性的射频脉冲序列来获得分子间双量子相干信号的五种裂分模式。进而归纳出对IpSq+Xk (p, q, k = 1, 2, 3,…)自旋体系普适的裂分模式规则。并指出,它们中如(1:0:-1)的裂分模式会放大J耦合裂分,使得J耦合常数的测量更精确,特别在J耦合常数很小或不均匀场中的J耦合常数的测量中具有诱人的应用前景。结果表明理论预测,计算机模拟和实验观测结果三者吻合的很好。     

Submillimeter-wave spectrum of the FCO radical

The submillimeter-wave spectrum of FCO has been measured using a backward-wave oscillator based spectrometer in conjunction with a free space absorption cell. The FCO radical has been produced in glow discharge plasma of a gaseous mixture of F₂CO, Ar, and He. A total of 109 a-type, R-branch lines have been measured in the 355-638 GHz region and have been analyzed together with the low-J transitions observed by means of Fourier Transform microwave spectroscopy [H. Habara, S. Yamamoto, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 207 (2001) 238]. Twenty-one molecular constants have been determined accurately including the fine and hyperfine interaction constants. Comparison of the hyperfine constants with ab initio values and matrix electron spin resonance data has been made.     

半导体量子阱中弱耦合磁极化子的性质

采用线性组合算符和改进的LLP变分法,研究了在考虑电子自旋情况下无限深量子阱中弱耦合磁极化子的性质。导出了弱耦合磁极化子的声子平均数、基态能量和电子自旋能量与磁极化子基态能量之比的绝对值的表达式。并对两种不同阱材料的量子阱进行了数值计算,结果表明:磁极化子的声子平均数随电子-LO声子耦合常数和阱宽的增加而增大,并且最终随着阱宽的增加而趋于体情况下的极限值;由于电子自旋能的作用使磁极化子的基态能量由不考虑电子自旋下的一条分裂为两条,并且它随阱宽和电子-LO声子耦合常数的增加而减小,随回旋共振频率(磁场)的增加而增大。电子自旋作用能否忽略由回旋共振频率和阱材料本身的性质决定。