Measurement of spin-lattice relaxation times of C in organic solids

A transient nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) makes measurements of the ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation times in organic solids complicated. Extended Solomon equations are applied in order to describe ¹³C spin-lattice relaxation with ¹H r.f. field irradiation. Spin-lattice relaxation under r.f. irradiation is shown to be generally a triple-exponential process, but it can be reduced to be single-exponential under stronger r.f. field irradiation as well as in the absence of ¹H initial magnetizations. Based on numerical calculations, the difference between spin-lattice relaxation curves obeying T₁^C < T₁^H and those obeying T₁^C < T₁^H is clearly indicated. The methyl group resonances in solid-state -valine are examined, and the experimental results agree well with the theoretical results.