Multinuclear solid-state high-resolution and 13C -{27Al} double-resonance magic-angle spinning NMR studies on aluminum alkoxides

A combination of 27Al magic-angle spinning (MAS)/multiple quantum (MQ)-MAS, 13C-1H CPMAS, and 13C-{27Al} transfer of population in double-resonance (TRAPDOR) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were used for the structural elucidation of the aluminum alkoxides aluminum ethoxide, aluminum isopropoxide, and aluminum tertiarybutoxide. Aluminum alkoxides exist as oligomers with aluminum in different coordinations. High-resolution 27Al MAS NMR experiments with high-spinning speed distinguished the aluminum atoms in different environments. The 27Al MAS NMR spectrum gave well-resolved powder patterns with different coordinations. Z-filter MQ-MAS was performed to obtain the number and types of aluminum environments in the oligomeric structure. 13C-1H CPMAS chemical shifts resolved the different carbon species (-CH3, =CH2, =CH-, and =C=) in the structures. 13C-{27Al} TRAPDOR experiments were employed to obtain relative Al-C dipolar interactions and to distinguish between terminal and bridging alkoxides in the crystallographic structures. The complete characterization of selected aluminum alkoxides using advanced NMR methods has evidenced the tetrameric structure for aluminum isopropoxide and the dimeric structure for aluminum tertiary-butoxide, as reported in the literature, and proposed a polymeric structure for aluminum ethoxide.     

Direct solid-state NMR spectroscopic evidence for the NH4AlF4 crystalline phase derived from zeolite HY dealuminated with ammonium hexafluorosilicate

Multinuclear (1)H, (19)F, and (27)Al MAS (magic angle spinning) and corresponding 2D HETCOR (heteronuclear correlation) NMR spectroscopy, in combination with powder XRD measurements, provide the direct evidence for the NH(4)AlF(4) crystalline phase, which was formed from zeolite HY dealuminated with an aqueous (NH(4))(2)SiF(6) solution at 80 degrees C. The NH(4)AlF(4) crystalline phase exhibits a characteristic second-order quadrupolar-induced (27)Al NMR line shape spreading from 0 to -90 ppm (in a magnetic field of 11.7 T) and two (19)F resonances at -151 and -166 ppm in the (19)F NMR spectrum. An( 27)Al quadrupolar coupling constant (C(Q)) of 9.5 MHz and an asymmetry parameter (eta) of 0.1 were identified, for the first time, for the NH(4)AlF(4) crystalline phase observed. On the basis of the (19)F{(27)Al} TRAPDOR (transfer population in double resonance) NMR results, the (19)F resonances at -151 and -166 ppm are therefore assigned to (19)F spins associated with the fluorines in the terminal Al-F and the bridging Al-F-Al groups, respectively.     

Effect of phenyl group on the structure and formation of transitional alumina from Al (OPh)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The structure of freshly prepared Al(OPh)₃, its decomposition product, the hydrolyzed products and their structural evolution were investigated employing ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectroscopy, PXRD, TGA/DTA/DSC/FTIR techniques. In the ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum of the aluminium phenoxide, three signals with the chemical shift at 3.78, 21 and 45 ppm were observed. The chemical shift at 3.78 and 45 ppm revealed the presence of four and sixfold coordinated aluminum. The signal at 21 ppm corresponded to fivefold coordinated aluminium. When the aluminium phenoxide was directly decomposed in air at 600 °C, it resulted in amorphous product as evidenced from the PXRD pattern. The observed signals with chemical shifts at 10.1, 42, 73.6 ppm in the ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum indicated the presence of 6, 5 and 4 coordination for the aluminium atoms suggesting disordered transitional γ-alumina to be the product. The hydrolysis studies of Al(OPh)₃ with excess of water at 70 °C yielded bohemite (γ-AlOOH). The alumina obtained after dehydration at 600 °C was X-ray amorphous. The dehydrated product at 600 °C showed the presence of four and six coordinated aluminium atoms in the ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum confirming it to be ordered γ-Al₂O₃. Crystalline γ-Al₂O₃ was obtained on further heating at 800 °C.     

Solid-state NMR identification and quantification of newly formed aluminosilicate phases in weathered kaolinite systems

The weathering of a specimen kaolinite clay was studied over the course of 369 d via solid-state 29Si magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-field 27Al MAS NMR. The chosen baseline solution conditions (0.05 mol kg-1 of Al, 2 mol kg-1 of Na+, 1 mol kg-1 of NO3-, 1 mol kg-1 of OH-, and pH approximately 13.8) approximate those of solutions leaking from waste tanks at the Hanford Site in Richland, WA. Nonradioactive Cs and Sr cations were added to this synthetic tank waste leachate (STWL) solution at concentrations of 10(-3), 10(-4), and 10(-5) molal (m) to represent their radionuclide counterparts. The transformations of silicon- and aluminum-containing solid phase species were monitored quantitatively by using NMR spectroscopy, with the resulting spectra directly reporting the influence of the initial Cs and Sr on formation and transformation of the neo-formed solids. At the lowest concentration of Cs and Sr employed (10(-5) m in each cation) peaks consistent with the formation of zeolite-like minerals were detected via 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR as early as 33 d. At concentrations of 10(-3) m in each cation, new silicon species are not detected until 93 d, although neophases containing four-coordinate aluminum were detectable at earlier reaction times via 27Al MAS NMR. At the highest magnetic field strengths employed in this NMR study, deconvolutions of resonances detected in the tetrahedral region of the 27Al MAS spectra yielded multiple components, indicating the existence of at least four new aluminum-containing phases. Two of these phases are identified as sodalite and cancrinite through comparison with diffuse-reflectance infrared (DRIFT) spectra and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, while a third phase may correlate with a previously detected aluminum-rich chabazite phase. All measurable solid reaction products have been quantified via their 27Al MAS resonances acquired at high magnetic field strengths (17.6 T), and the quantitative nature of the 27Al NMR data shows that cancrinite growth increases while sodalite reaches a steady state with respect to total aluminum in the solid phases. The data also relate the coupling of Cs sorption to the ripening of feldspathoid phases in this heterogeneous system as a function of time, and illustrate the important influence of co-contaminants on the environmental reaction kinetics studied here.     

Structure resolution of Ba5Al3F19 and investigation of fluorine ion dynamics by synchrotron powder diffraction, variable-temperature solid-state NMR, and quantum computations

The room temperature structure of Ba(5)Al(3)F(19) has been solved using electron microscopy and synchrotron powder diffraction data. One-dimensional (1D) (27)Al and ultrafast magic-angle-spinning (MAS) (19)F NMR spectra have been recorded and are in agreement with the proposed structural model for Ba(5)Al(3)F(19). The (19)F isotropic chemical shift and (27)Al quadrupolar parameters have been calculated using the CASTEP code from the experimental and density functional theory geometry-optimized structures. After optimization, the calculated NMR parameters of both the (19)F and (27)Al nuclei show improved consistency with the experimental values, demonstrating that the geometry optimization step is necessary to obtain more accurate and reliable structural data. This also enables a complete and unambiguous assignment of the (19)F MAS NMR spectrum of Ba(5)Al(3)F(19). Variable-temperature 1D MAS (19)F NMR experiments have been carried out, showing the occurrence of fluorine ion mobility. Complementary insights were obtained from both two-dimensional (2D) exchange and 2D double-quantum dipolar recoupling NMR experiments, and a detailed analysis of the anionic motion in Ba(5)Al(3)F(19) is proposed, including the distinction between reorientational processes and chemical exchange involving bond breaking and re-formation.     

Incorporation of aluminum in the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) of hydrated portland cements: a high-field 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR investigation

The calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase resulting from hydration of a white Portland cement (wPc) in water and in a 0.3 M NaAlO(2) solution has been investigated at 14 and 11 hydration times, respectively, ranging from 6 h to 1 year by (27)Al and (29)Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. (27)Al MAS NMR spectra recorded at 7.05, 9.39, 14.09, and 21.15 T have allowed a determination of the (27)Al isotropic chemical shift (delta(iso)) and quadrupolar product parameter (P(Q) = C(Q)) for tetrahedrally coordinated Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase and for a pentacoordinated Al site. The latter site may originate from Al(3+) substituting for Ca(2+) ions situated in the interlayers of the C-S-H structure. The spectral region for octahedrally coordinated Al displays resonances from ettringite, monosulfate, and a third aluminate hydrate phase (delta(iso) = 5.0 ppm and P(Q) = 1.20 MHz). The latter phase is tentatively ascribed to a less-crystalline aluminate gel or calcium aluminate hydrate. The tetrahedral Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase has been quantitatively determined from (27)Al MAS spectra at 14.09 T and indirectly observed quantitatively in (29)Si MAS NMR spectra by the Q(2)(1Al) resonance at -81.0 ppm. A linear correlation is observed between the (29)Si MAS NMR intensity for the Q(2)(1Al) resonance and the quantity of Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase from (27)Al MAS NMR for the different samples of hydrated wPc. This correlation supports the assignment of the resonance at delta(iso)((29)Si) = -81.0 ppm to a Q(2)(1Al) site in the C-S-H phase and the assignment of the (27)Al resonance at delta(iso)((27)Al) = 74.6 ppm, characterized by P(Q)((27)Al) = 4.5 MHz, to tetrahedrally coordinated Al in the C-S-H. Finally, it is shown that hydration of wPc in a NaAlO(2) solution results in a C-S-H phase with a longer mean chain length of SiO(4) tetrahedra and an increased quantity of Al incorporated in the chain structure as compared to the C-S-H phase resulting from hydration of wPc in water.     

Characterization of framework and extra-framework aluminum species in non-hydrated zeolites Y by 27Al spin-echo, high-speed MAS, and MQMAS NMR spectroscopy at B0 = 9.4 to 17.6 T

27Al spin-echo, high-speed MAS (nu(rot) = 30 kHz), and MQMAS NMR spectroscopy in magnetic fields of B0 = 9.4, 14.1, and 17.6 T were applied for the study of aluminum species at framework and extra-framework positions in non-hydrated zeolites Y. Non-hydrated gamma-Al2O3 and non-hydrated aluminum-exchanged zeolite Y (Al,Na-Y) and zeolite H,Na-Y were utilized as reference materials. The solid-state 27Al NMR spectra of steamed zeolite deH,Na-Y/81.5 were found to consist of four signals. The broad low-field signal is caused by a superposition of the signals of framework aluminum atoms in the vicinity of bridging hydroxyl protons and framework aluminum atoms compensated in their negative charge by aluminum cations (delta(iso) = 70 +/- 10 ppm, C(QCC) = 15.0 +/- 1.0 MHz). The second signal is due to a superposition of the signals of framework aluminum atoms compensated by sodium cations and tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum atoms in neutral extra-framework aluminum oxide clusters (delta(iso) = 65 +/- 5 ppm, C(QCC) = 8.0 +/- 0.5 MHz). The residual two signals were attributed to aluminum cations (delta(iso) = 35 +/- 5 ppm, C(QCC) = 7.5 +/- 0.5 MHz) and octahedrally coordinated aluminum atoms in neutral extra-framework aluminum oxide clusters (delta(iso) = 10 +/- 5 ppm, C(QCC) = 5.0 +/- 0.5 MHz). By chemical analysis and evaluating the relative solid-state 27Al NMR intensities of the different signals of aluminum species occurring in zeolite deH,Na-Y/81.5 in the non-hydrated state, the aluminum distribution in this material was determined.     

HZSM-5分子筛焙烧脱铝的27Al MQMAS NMR研究

用29Si、27Al魔角旋转固体核磁共振(MAS NMR)结合二维多量子魔角旋转(2D MQMAS)技术对焙烧脱铝的HZSM-5分子筛中铝的配位状态进行了研究.结果表明,HZSM-5分子筛经焙烧后,在化学位移(δ)45处出现一宽峰信号,其主要来自扭曲四配位铝.通过二维三量子铝谱计算出扭曲四配位铝的四极作用常数约为5.2 MHz.对700和750 ℃焙烧样品的铝谱进行分峰拟合,发现在δ 30处又出现一个小峰,归属为非骨架五配位铝.同时,在750 ℃焙烧样品的二维多量子铝谱中直接观察到非骨架五配位铝的信号.焙烧温度低于700 ℃,脱铝不明显；高于700 ℃,引起分子筛骨架的显著脱铝.焙烧还造成部分骨架铝的信号变得“不可观测”.     

Crystallization of AlPO4-5 aluminophosphate molecular sieve prepared in fluoride medium: a multinuclear solid-state NMR study

In the present work, multinuclear solid-state NMR techniques, combined with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, are employed to monitor the crystallization of AlPO4-5 aluminophosphate prepared in the presence of HF under hydrothermal condition. The crystallization process is characterized by the evolution of intermediate gels, in which the long-rang ordering arrangement is probed by PXRD, revealing the threshold of the crystallization around 120 min. The appearance of 31P signals at ca. -22 and -29 ppm due to the structural P-O-Al unit and 19F signal at -120 ppm due to the structural F-Alpen-O-P unit in the NMR spectra of the series gels indicates that the crystalline framework is starting to form. The onset of the crystallization is also evidenced by the presence of the pentacoordinated Al in the structural F-Alpen-O-P unit which is considered to be associated with the ordered framework. More information about the local ordering of the gels is obtained from two-dimensional 27Al --> 31P heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) and 31P/27Al double-resonance experiments. In combination with 1H --> 31P cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) experiments, two microdomains can be identified in the 120 min heated gel. A possible evolution mechanism of the gels consisting of three successive stages is proposed for the crystallization process.     

Structure of Framework Aluminum Lewis Sites and Perturbed Aluminum Atoms in Zeolites as Determined by 27Al{1H} REDOR (3Q) MAS NMR Spectroscopy and DFT/Molecular Mechanics

Zeolites are highly important heterogeneous catalysts. Besides Brønsted SiOHAl acid sites, also framework Al_FR Lewis acid sites are often found in their H‐forms. The formation of Al_FR Lewis sites in zeolites is a key issue regarding their selectivity in acid‐catalyzed reactions. The local structures of Al_FR Lewis sites in dehydrated zeolites and their precursors—“perturbed” Al_FR atoms in hydrated zeolites—were studied by high‐resolution MAS NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and DFT/MM calculations. Perturbed framework Al atoms correspond to (SiO)₃AlOH groups and are characterized by a broad ²⁷Al NMR resonance (δ_i=59–62 ppm, C_Q=5 MHz, and η=0.3–0.4) with a shoulder at 40 ppm in the ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum. Dehydroxylation of (SiO)₃AlOH occurs at mild temperatures and leads to the formation of Al_FR Lewis sites tricoordinated to the zeolite framework. Al atoms of these (SiO)₃Al Lewis sites exhibit an extremely broad ²⁷Al NMR resonance (δ_i≈67 ppm, C_Q≈20 MHz, and η≈0.1).     

A ladderlike chain aluminum fluoride ([Al2F8]2-)n with edge-sharing AlF6 octahedra

A new aluminum fluoride, Al(2)F(8).2NC(5)H(6).C(6)H(3)(CO(2)H)(3), was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions (200 degrees C, 3 days) in the presence of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (btc) in pyridine/HF (pyr/HF) solvent. Its structure is characterized with single-crystal XRD analysis and high-resolution solid-state NMR. The inorganic framework consists of the corner- and edge-shared connections of AlF(6) octahedra. They are linked via a common edge and form a bioctahedral motif which is trans-connected through the corner-shared fluorine. It results in the formation of an original infinite double file of AlF(6) octahedra running along the a axis. A high-power decoupled MAS (27)Al{(19)F} Hahn echo NMR spectrum allowed us to distinguish the two crystallographic hexacoordinated Al sites. Four unresolved (19)F NMR signals are observed in the MAS spectra to account for the eight crystallographic fluorine atoms. Half of the terminal fluorine sites interact via strong hydrogen bonds with the ammonium groups of the pyridine moieties. The resulting mixed pyridine-fluoroaluminate chains are intercalated by the btc molecules which are hydrogen-bonded to the remaining free terminal fluoride anions through the protonated carboxylic acid function. The (1)H nuclei of both organic molecules are observed in the protonated form.     

The aluminum ordering in aluminosilicates: a dipolar 27Al NMR spectroscopy study

The spatial ordering of aluminum atoms in CsAl(SiO3)2 and 3Al2O3.2SiO2 was probed by 27Al dipolar solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The 27Al response to a Hahn spin-echo pulse sequence in a series of aluminum-containing model crystalline compounds demonstrates that quantitative 27Al homonuclear dipolar second moments can be obtained to within +/-20% of the theoretical values, if evaluation of the spin-echo response curve is limited to short evolution periods (2t1 < or = 0.10 ms). Additionally, selective excitation of the central transition m = 1/2 --> -1/2 is necessary in order to ensure quantitative results. Restriction of spin exchange affecting the dephasing of the magnetization may decelerate the spin-echo decay at longer evolution periods. Considering these restraints, the method was used to probe the spatial distribution of aluminum atoms among the tetrahedral sites in two aluminosilicate materials. Experimental 27Al spin-echo response data for the aluminosilicates CsAl(SiO3)2 (synthetic pollucite) and 3Al2O3.2SiO2 (mullite) are compared with theoretical data based on (I) various degrees of aluminum-oxygen-aluminum bond formation among tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum atoms (Al(T(d) )-O-Al(T(d) )) and (II) the maximum avoidance of Al(T(d) )-O-Al(T(d) ) bonding. Analysis of the second moment values and resulting echo decay responses suggests that partial suppression of spin exchange among aluminum atoms in crystallographically distinct sites may contribute to the 27Al spin echo decay in 3Al2O3.2SiO2, thus complicating quantitative analysis of the data. Silicon-29 and aluminum-27 magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra of 3Al2O3.2SiO2 are consistent with those previously reported. The experimental 27Al spin-echo response behavior of CsAl(SiO3)2 differs from the theoretical response behavior based on the maximum avoidance of Al-O-Al bonding between tetrahedral aluminum sites in CsAl(SiO3)2. A single unresolved resonance is observed in both the silicon-29 and aluminum-27 MAS spectra of CsAl(SiO3)2.     

Aluminum orthovanadate (AlVO4): synthesis and characterization by (27)Al and 51V MAS and MQMAS NMR spectroscopy

Polycrystalline samples of AlVO(4) have been prepared by two methods of synthesis and characterized by (27)Al and (51)V MAS NMR spectroscopy at 14.1 T. The MAS NMR spectra clearly reveal that essentially pure samples with minor impurities of V(2)O(5) and alumina have been obtained. From these samples, (27)Al quadrupole coupling parameters and isotropic chemical shifts as well as the magnitudes and relative orientations of the (51)V quadrupole coupling and chemical shift tensors have been determined with high precision for AlVO(4). These data have been obtained from a combined analysis of multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR spectra and MAS NMR spectra of the central and satellite transitions. The (27)Al and (51)V NMR data show that the asymmetric unit for AlVO(4) contains three isolated VO(4) tetrahedra, one pentacoordinated Al site, and two AlO(6) octahedra. This is in agreement with the supposition that AlVO(4) is isostructural with FeVO(4) and with a recent structure refinement for AlVO(4) based on powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The favorable agreement between the refined crystal structure from powder XRD and the NMR parameters is apparent from a convincing correlation between experimental (51)V quadrupole tensor elements and calculated (51)V electric field gradient tensor elements obtained by the point-monopole approach. An assignment of the (27)Al NMR data is obtained from similar calculations of the (27)Al electric field gradients and by estimation of the distortion of the AlO(6) octahedra.     

Structural role of fluoride in aluminophosphate sol-gel glasses: high-resolution double-resonance NMR studies

The local structure of Na-Al-P-O-F glasses, prepared by a novel sol-gel route, was extensively investigated by advanced solid-state NMR techniques. 27Al{19F} rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) results indicate that the F incorporated into aluminophosphate glass is preferentially bonded to octahedral Al units and results in a significant increase in the concentration of six-coordinated aluminum. The extent of Al-F and Al-O-P connectivities are quantified consistently by analyzing 27Al{31P} and 27Al{19F} REDOR NMR data. Two distinct types of fluorine species were identified and characterized by various 19F{27Al}, 19F{23Na}, and 19F{31P} double resonance experiments, which were able to support peak assignments to bridging (Al-F-Al, -140 ppm) and terminal (Al-F, -170 ppm) units. On the basis of the detailed quantitative dipole-dipole coupling information obtained, a comprehensive structural model for these glasses is presented, detailing the structural speciation as a function of composition.     

New crystalline aluminum alkoxide oxide fluorides: evidence of the mechanism of the fluorolytic sol-gel reaction

This study reports three new crystalline aluminum isopropoxide oxide fluorides with molar ratios of Al:F equal to 1:1 and 1:1.25. These are the first three representatives isolated without the incorporation of external donor molecules. Compound 1 Al(4)F(4)(μ(4)-O)(μ-O(i)Pr)(5)[H(O(i)Pr)(2)] contains a tetranuclear unit consisting of two different five fold coordinated AlFO(4)-units, with F exclusively in the terminal position. Compound 2, Al(4)F(4)(μ(4)-O)(μ-O(i)Pr)(5)[H(O(i)Pr)(2)]·Al(5)F(5)(μ(5)-O)(μ-O(i)Pr)(8), contains both a tetranuclear unit (as in 1) and a pentanuclear Al-unit. Al-atoms in the latter are five- and six fold coordinated. Compound 3, Al(16)F(20)(μ(4)-O)(4)(μ-O(i)Pr)(20)·2((i)PrOH), exhibits a slightly higher fluorination degree and contains an oligomeric chain of four F-linked tetranuclear Al-units. In addition to X-ray structure analysis, compound 1 was characterized by different solid state MAS NMR techniques, including (27)Al triple quantum MAS NMR and (1)H, (1)H→(13)C CP, (19)F and (27)Al MAS NMR. On the basis of the collected data, a reliable decomposition of (27)Al single pulse MAS NMR spectra and an unambiguous assignment of the resonances to the respective structural AlFO(4)-units are given. The new crystalline aluminum isopropoxide oxide fluorides are direct evidence of the fluorolytic sol-gel mechanism previously discussed.     

High magnetic field solid‐state NMR analyses by combining MAS,MQ‐MAS,homo‐nuclear and hetero‐nuclear correlation experiments

A general strategy of structural analysis of alumina silicate by combining various solid‐state NMR measurements such as single pulse, multi‐quantum magic angle spinning, double‐quantum homo‐nuclear correlation under magic angle spinning (DQ‐MAS), and cross‐polarization hetero‐nuclear correlation (CP‐HETCOR) was evaluated with the aid of high magnetic field NMR (800 MHz for ¹H Larmor frequency) by using anorthite as a model material. The high magnetic field greatly enhanced resolution of ²⁷Al in single pulse, DQ‐MAS, and even in triple‐quantum magic angle spinning NMR spectra. The spatial proximities through dipolar couplings were probed by the DQ‐MAS methods for homo‐nuclear correlations between both ²⁷Al–²⁷Al and ²⁹Si–²⁹Si and by CP‐HETCOR for hetero‐nuclear correlations between ²⁷Al–²⁹Si in the anorthite framework. By combining various NMR methodologies, we elucidated detailed spatial correlations among various aluminum and silicon species in anorthite that was hard to be determined using conventional analytical methods at low magnetic field. Moreover, the presented approach is applicable to analyze other alumina‐silicate minerals. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic effects in MAS and MQMAS NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei: calculations and an application to the double perovskite cryolite

Dynamic processes such as chemical exchange or rotations between inequivalent orientations can affect the magic-angle spinning (MAS) and the multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR spectra of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei. The present paper discusses such dynamic multisite MAS and MQMAS effects and applies them to study the dynamic processes that occur in the double perovskite cryolite, Na3AlF6. Dynamic line shape simulations invoking a second-order broadening of the central transition and relying on the semiclassical Bloch-McConnell formalism for chemical exchange were performed for a variety of exchange models possessing different symmetries. Fitting experimental variable-temperature cryolite 23Na NMR data with this formalism revealed that the two inequivalent sodium sites in this mineral undergo an exchange characterized by a broad distribution of rates. To further assess this dynamic process a variety of 27Al and 19F MAS NMR studies were also undertaken; quantitative 27Al-19F dipolar coupling measurements then revealed a dynamic motion of the AlF6 octahedra that were qualitatively consistent with predictions stemming from molecular dynamic simulations on this double perovskite.     

Spectroscopic characterization of natural calcite minerals

The FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR spectral data of ten different limestone samples have been compared. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectral data show that calcium carbonate in limestone, principally in the form of calcite, as identified by its main absorption bands at 1426, 1092, 876 and 712 cm(-1). The sharp diffractions at the d-spacings, 3.0348, 1.9166 and 1.8796 confirm the presence of calcite structure and the calculated lattice parameters are: a=4.9781 A, c=17.1188 A. The range of 13C chemical shifts for different limestone samples is very small, varying from 198.38 to 198.42 ppm. The observed chemical shifts are consistent with the identical C-O bonding in different limestone samples. 27Al MAS NMR spectra of the samples exhibit a central line at 1 ppm and another line at 60 ppm corresponding to octahedral and tetrahedral Al ions, respectively. The five component resonances were observed in 29Si MAS NMR spectrum of limestone and these resonances were assigned to Si (4 Al), Si (3 Al), Si (2 Al), Si (1 Al) and Si (0 Al) from low field to high field.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy of a new open-framework aluminophosphate (NH(4))(2)Al(4)(PO(4))(4)(HPO(4))xH(2)O

A new three-dimensional open-framework aluminophosphate (NH(4))(2)Al(4)(PO(4))(4)(HPO(4)).H(2)O (denoted AlPO-CJ19) with an Al/P ratio of 4/5 has been synthesized, using pyridine as the solvent and 2-aminopyridine as the structure-directing agent, under solvothermal conditions. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by solid-state NMR techniques. The alternation of the Al-centered polyhedra (including AlO(4), AlO(5), and AlO(6)) and the P-centered tetrahedra (including PO(4) and PO(3)OH) results in an interrupted open-framework structure with an eight-membered ring channel along the [100] direction. This is the first aluminophosphate containing three kinds of Al coordinations (AlO(4), AlO(5), and AlO(6)) with all oxygen vertexes connected to framework P atoms. (27)Al MAS NMR, (31)P MAS NMR, and (1)H --> (31)P CPMAS NMR characterizations show that the solid-state NMR techniques are an effective complement to XRD analysis for structure elucidation. Furthermore, all of the possible coordinations of Al and P in the aluminophosphates with an Al/P ratio of 4/5 are summarized. Crystal data: (NH(4))(2)Al(4)(PO(4))(4)(HPO(4))xH(2)O, monoclinic P2(1) (No. 4), a = 5.0568(3) A, b = 21.6211(18) A, c = 8.1724(4) A, beta = 91.361(4) degrees , V = 893.27(10) A(3), Z = 2, R(1) = 0.0456 (I > 2 sigma(I)), and wR(2) = 0.1051 (all data).