Towards shorter composite 180° refocusing pulses for NMR.

Novel composite 180° pulses are designed for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and verified experimentally using solution-state H NMR spectroscopy. Rather than being constructed from 180° pulses (as in much recent work), the new composite pulses are constructed from 90° pulses, with the aim of finding sequences that are shorter overall than existing equivalents. The primary (but not exclusive) focus is on composite pulses that are dual compensated - simultaneously broadband with respect to both inhomogeneity of the radiofrequency field and resonance offset - and have antisymmetric phase schemes, such that they can be used to form spin echoes without the introduction of a phase error.

Biexponential = 3/2 Spin-Lattice Relaxation in the Solid State: Multiple-Quantum Li NMR as a Probe of Fast Ion Dynamics.

Spin-lattice relaxation measurements are used in Li NMR studies of materials of potential use in solid-state Li-ion batteries as a probe of ion mobility on a fast (nanosecond to picosecond) time scale. The relaxation behavior is often analyzed by assuming exponential behavior or, equivalently, a single time constant. However, the spin-lattice relaxation of spin = 3/2 nuclei, such as Li, is in general biexponential; this is a fundamental property of = 3/2 nuclei and unrelated to any compartmentalization within the solid.

Two-dimensional H and H-detected NMR study of a heterogeneous biocatalyst using fast MAS at high magnetic fields.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful tool for investigating atomic-scale structure in heterogeneous or composite materials where long-range order is absent. In this work solid-state H and H-detected NMR experiments were performed with fast magic angle spinning (ν = 75 kHz) and at high magnetic fields (B = 20 T) and used to gain structural insight into a heterogeneous biocatalyst consisting of an enzyme, human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA II), covalently immobilized on epoxy-functionalized silica. Two-dimensional H-H NOESY-type correlation experiments were able to provide information on H environments in silica, epoxy-silica and the immobilized enzyme.

A high-resolution natural abundance S MAS NMR study of the cementitious mineral ettringite.

Despite the widespread occurrence of sulfur in both natural and man-made materials, the S nucleus has only rarely been utilised in solid-state NMR spectroscopy on account of its very low natural abundance (0.76%), low NMR frequency (ν = 30.7 MHz at B = 9.

The ambient hydration of the aluminophosphate JDF-2 to AlPO-53(A): insights from NMR crystallography.

The aluminophosphate (AlPO) JDF-2 is prepared hydrothermally with methylammonium hydroxide (MAH·HO, MAH = CHNH), giving rise to a microporous AEN-type framework with occluded MAH cations and extra-framework (Al-bound) HO anions. Despite the presence of these species within its pores, JDF-2 can hydrate upon exposure to atmospheric moisture to give AlPO-53(A), an isostructural material whose crystal structure contains one molecule of HO per formula unit. This hydration can be reversed by mild heating (such as the frictional heating from magic angle spinning).

Spin-locking of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei in NMR of solids: The far off-resonance case.

Spin-locking of spin I=3/2 and I=5/2 nuclei in the presence of large resonance offsets has been studied using both approximate and exact theoretical approaches and, in the case of I=3/2, experimentally. We show the variety of coherences and population states produced in a far off-resonance spin-locking NMR experiment (one consisting solely of a spin-locking pulse) and how these vary with the radiofrequency field strength and offset frequency. Under magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions and in the "adiabatic limit", these spin-locked states acquire a time dependence.

Solid-state dynamics in the closo-carboranes: a (11)B MAS NMR and molecular dynamics study.

This work explores the dynamic behavior of the three closo-carborane isomers (formula C2B10H12) using modern solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR techniques and relates the experimental measurements to theoretical results obtained using molecular dynamics simulations. At high temperatures and at B0 = 9.4 T, the (11)B MAS line widths are narrow (40-90 Hz) for the three isomers.

Deuterium MAS NMR studies of dynamics on multiple timescales: histidine and oxalic acid.

Deuterium ((2) H) magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance is applied to monitor the dynamics of the exchanging labile deuterons of polycrystalline L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate-d7 and α-oxalic acid dihydrate-d6 . Direct experimental evidence of fast dynamics is obtained from T1Z and T1Q measurements. Further motional information is extracted from two-dimensional single-quantum (SQ) and double-quantum (DQ) MAS spectra.

Imaging of the B1 distribution and background signal in a MAS NMR probehead using inhomogeneous B0 and B1 fields.

Several widely used methods for suppressing the "background" signal in (1)H magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy are based on the assumption of a significant difference between the B1 radiofrequency field experienced by the sample (within the MAS rotor) and that felt by static components of the probehead (where the background signal is believed to originate). In this work, a two-dimensional correlation experiment employing inhomogeneous B0 and B1 fields is used to image the B1 distribution in a MAS NMR probehead. The experiment, which can be performed on any spectrometer, allows the distribution of the B1 field to be measured and also correlated with the spatial location of the NMR signal within the probehead.

Dual-compensated antisymmetric composite refocusing pulses for NMR.

Novel antisymmetric composite 180° pulses are designed for use in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and verified experimentally. The pulses are simultaneously broadband with respect to both inhomogeneity of the radiofrequency (B(1)) field and resonance offset and, as a result of their antisymmetric phase schemes, can be used to form spin echoes without the introduction of a phase error. The new dual-compensated pulses are designed analytically, using symmetry arguments and a graphical interpretation of average Hamiltonian theory.

Improved background suppression in ¹H MAS NMR using composite pulses.

A well known feature of ¹H MAS NMR spectroscopy, particularly of solids where the concentration of ¹H nuclei is low, is the presence in the spectrum of a significant broad "background" signal arising from ¹H nuclei that are outside the MAS rotor and radiofrequency coil, probably located on the surfaces of the static components of the probehead. A popular method of suppressing this unwanted signal is the "depth pulse" method, consisting of a 90° pulse followed by one or two 180° pulses that are phase cycled according to the "Exorcycle" scheme, which removes signal associated with imperfect 180° pulses. Consequently, only spins in the centre of the radiofrequency coil contribute to the ¹H MAS spectrum, while those experiencing a low B₁ field outside the coil are suppressed.

Use of composite refocusing pulses to form spin echoes.

The radiofrequency pulses used in NMR are subject to a number of imperfections such as those caused by inhomogeneity of the radiofrequency (B(1)) field and an offset of the transmitter frequency from precise resonance. The effect of these pulse imperfections upon a refocusing pulse in a spin-echo experiment can be severe. Many of the worst effects, those that distort the phase of the spin echo, can be removed completely by selecting the echo coherence pathway using either the "Exorcycle" phase cycle or magnetic field gradients.

High-resolution (19)F MAS NMR spectroscopy: structural disorder and unusual J couplings in a fluorinated hydroxy-silicate.

High-resolution (19)F magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy is used to study disorder and bonding in a crystalline solid. (19)F MAS NMR reveals four distinct F sites in a 50% fluorine-substituted deuterated hydrous magnesium silicate (clinohumite, 4Mg(2)SiO(4)·Mg(OD(1-x)F(x))(2) with x = 0.5), indicating extensive structural disorder.

Dynamics on the microsecond timescale in hydrous silicates studied by solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopy.

Solid-state (2)H NMR spectroscopy has been used to probe the dynamic disorder of hydroxyl deuterons in a synthetic sample of deuterated hydroxyl-clinohumite (4Mg(2)SiO(4).Mg(OD)(2)), a proposed model for the incorporation of water within the Earth's mantle. Both static and magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR methods were used.

Spin-locking of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei in nuclear magnetic resonance of solids: second-order quadrupolar and resonance offset effects.

Spin-locking of spin I=3/2 and I=5/2 nuclei in the presence of small resonance offset and second-order quadrupolar interactions has been investigated using both exact and approximate theoretical and experimental nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approaches. In the presence of second-order quadrupolar interactions, we show that the initial rapid dephasing that arises from the noncommutation of the state prepared by the first pulse and the spin-locking Hamiltonian gives rise to tensor components of the spin density matrix that are antisymmetric with respect to inversion, in addition to those symmetric with respect to inversion that are found when only a first-order quadrupolar interaction is considered. We also find that spin-locking of multiple-quantum coherence in a static solid is much more sensitive to resonance offset than that of single-quantum coherence and show that good spin-locking of multiple-quantum coherence can still be achieved if the resonance offset matches the second-order shift of the multiple-quantum coherence in the appropriate reference frame.

Structure and NMR assignment in calcined and as-synthesized forms of AlPO-14: a combined study by first-principles calculations and high-resolution 27Al-31P MAS NMR correlation.

The high-resolution 27Al and 31P NMR spectra of two as-synthesized forms of the microporous aluminophosphate AlPO-14 and the corresponding calcined-dehydrated form were assigned using both "first-principles" calculations of NMR parameters (GIPAW, as implemented in NMR-CASTEP) and a 27Al-31P heteronuclear correlation NMR experiment (MQ-J-HETCOR) that exploits 27Al multiple-quantum coherences and J couplings to identify Al-O-P linkages. NMR parameters calculated from published AlPO-14 crystal structures, which are derived from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, are in poor agreement with experiment and it was necessary to optimize the structure geometry using energy minimization before satisfactory agreement was obtained. Comparison of simulated powder XRD patterns from the experimental and the energy-minimized structures shows that the changes in relative atomic positions in the optimized structure are relatively small and yield only minor adjustments in the Bragg peak intensities.

Satellite transitions acquired in real time by magic angle spinning (STARTMAS): "ultrafast" high-resolution MAS NMR spectroscopy of spin I=3/2 nuclei.

The satellite transitions acquired in real time by magic angle spinning (STARTMAS) NMR experiment combines a train of pulses with sample rotation at the magic angle to refocus the first- and second-order quadrupolar broadening of spin I=3/2 nuclei in a series of echoes, while allowing the isotropic chemical and quadrupolar shifts to evolve. The result is real-time isotropic NMR spectra at high spinning rates using conventional MAS equipment. In this paper we describe in detail how STARTMAS data can be acquired and processed with ease on commercial equipment.

17O and 29Si NMR parameters of MgSiO3 phases from high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy and first-principles calculations.

The 29Si and 17O NMR parameters of six polymorphs of MgSiO3 were determined through a combination of high-resolution solid-state NMR and first-principles gauge including projector augmented wave (GIPAW) formalism calculations using periodic boundary conditions. MgSiO3 is an important component of the Earth's mantle that undergoes structural changes as a function of pressure and temperature. For the lower pressure polymorphs (ortho-, clino-, and protoenstatite), all oxygen species in the 17O high-resolution triple-quantum magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra were resolved and assigned.

Use of SPAM and FAM pulses in high-resolution MAS NMR spectroscopy of quadrupolar nuclei.

The merits of SPAM and FAM pulses for enhancing the conversion of triple- to single-quantum coherences in the two-dimensional MQMAS experiment are compared using (87)Rb (spin I=3/2) and (27)Al (I=5/2) NMR of crystalline and amorphous materials. Although SPAM pulses are more easily optimized, our experiments and simulations suggest that FAM pulses yield greater signal intensity in all cases. In conclusion, we argue that, as originally suggested, SPAM and FAM pulses are best implemented in phase-modulated whole-echo MQMAS experiments and that the use of SPAM pulses to record separate echo and antiecho data sets, which are then combined, generally yields lower signal-to-noise ratios.

First-principles calculations of solid-state (17)O and (29)Si NMR spectra of Mg(2)SiO(4) polymorphs.

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) shielding and electric field gradient (EFG) tensors of three polymorphs of Mg(2)SiO(4), forsterite (alpha-Mg(2)SiO(4)), wadsleyite (beta-Mg(2)SiO(4)) and ringwoodite (gamma-Mg(2)SiO(4)), have been calculated using a density functional theory (DFT) approach with a planewave basis set and pseudopotential approximation. These Mg(2)SiO(4) polymorphs are the principal components of the Earth down to depths of 660 km and have been proposed as the hosts of water in the Earth's upper mantle and transition zone. A comparison of our calculations with single-crystal spectroscopic data in the literature for the alpha-polymorph, forsterite, shows that both the magnitude and orientation of the shielding and EFG tensors for O and Si can be obtained with sufficient accuracy to distinguish subtle differences in atomic positions between published structures.

Five-coordinate Pd(II) orthometallated triarylphosphite complexes.

The reaction of the orthopalladated triarylphosphite complexes [{Pd(mu-Cl){kappa(2)-P,C-P(OC(6)H(2)-2,4-R(2))(OC(6)H(3)-2,4-R(2))}(2)] (R = H, (t)Bu) with bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine leads to a five-coordinate palladium(II) (R = H) and a mixture containing four-and five-coordinate species (R = (t)Bu). The crystal structure of the five-coordinate species [Pd{kappa(2)-P,C-(P(OC(6)H(4))(OC(6)H(5))(2)}{bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine}][SbF(6)] is presented. This complex reacts with hydrogen peroxide or [AuCl(tht)] to give four-coordinate complexes in which the displaced phosphine residue is either oxidised or coordinated to gold chloride; this demonstrates that the five-coordinate complexes are labile in solution.

Experimental observations of water-framework interactions in a hydrated microporous aluminum phosphate.

Differential scanning calorimetry of the hydrated, microporous aluminum phosphate AlPO-14 shows two distinct water losses between room temperature and 120 degrees C, indicating the presence of two types of water in the solid. Multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) (27)Al NMR shows that, while in dehydrated AlPO-14 all aluminum is found in tetrahedral sites, on hydration a significant proportion of the aluminum increases its coordination number to 6. This accounts for the presence of tightly bound water.

Dynamics on the microsecond timescale in microporous aluminophosphate AlPO-14 as evidenced by 27Al MQMAS and STMAS NMR spectroscopy.

Multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) and satellite-transition magic angle spinning (STMAS) are two well-known techniques for obtaining high-resolution, or "isotropic", NMR spectra of quadrupolar nuclei. It has recently been shown that dynamics-driven modulation of the quadrupolar interaction on the microsecond timescale results in linewidths in isotropic STMAS spectra that are strongly broadened, while, in contrast, the isotropic MQMAS linewidths remain narrow. Here, we use this novel methodology in an 27Al (I = 5/2) NMR study of the calcined-dehydrated aluminophosphate AlPO-14 and two forms of as-synthesized AlPO-14, one prepared with isopropylamine (C3H7NH2) as the template molecule and one with piperidine (C5H10NH).

Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) enhancement of 11B NMR spectra of borane adducts in the solid state.

A strong 11B {1H} nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) enhancement can be observed in solid-state 11B NMR spectra of borane adducts, yielding fractional enhancements, fI{S} = (I - I0)/I0, of the magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR signal of up to 155%. This is an interesting and unusual observation as 11B (spin I = 3/2) is a quadrupolar nucleus and the corresponding NOE is completely absent in solution. More generally, it shows that the NOE may have a wider role to play in solid-state NMR studies of dynamics than has been envisaged hitherto.