High-resolution multiple quantum MAS NMR spectroscopy of half-integer quadrupolar nuclei

Very fast MAS and MQMAS NMR studies of the spectroscopically challenging minerals kyanite and andalusite on 400, 500, and 800 MHz spectrometers

The well-characterized minerals kyanite and andalusite have long presented great challenges in using solid state 27Al NMR to determine the isotropic chemical shift deltaCS, quadrupole coupling constant e2qQ/h, and asymmetry parameter eta for each of the inequivalent aluminum sites in these minerals. Indeed, these minerals have frequently been used to test advances in instrumentation. Recent advances in magnet technology (up to 18.8 T = 800 MHz 1H) and in MAS probe technology (spinning up to 35 kHz and considerably stronger rf) and refinements of the two-dimensional, multiple quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) technique suggested that these developments could be profitably used to study kyanite and andalusite by solid state 27Al NMR. The benefit of being able to study kyanite both by MAS and MQMAS techniques on 400, 500, and 800 MHz spectrometers is demonstrated. The two octahedral aluminum sites with the largest (and nearly equal) e2qQ/h values give overlapping 1D MAS or 2D 3QMAS signals at all three field strengths. Nevertheless, quantitatively accurate 3Q signal intensities at 9.4 T for all four octahedral aluminum sites (with e2qQ/h values up to 10 MHz) allow more detailed analysis. Even if the 3Q signal intensities are not quantitative, their isotropic shifts provide an approach (if accurate e2qQ/h and eta values are available) other than deconvolution of the MAS spectrum for calculating deltaCS values. For andalusite, 34 kHz MAS on the 800 MHz spectrometer significantly narrows the extremely broad signal for the octahedral aluminum, and only slight difficulties are encountered in quantitating the relative amounts of AlO5 and AlO6 present. Even with e2qQ/h = 15.3 MHz, the octahedral aluminum in andalusite gives a signal in a MQMAS experiment, albeit of reduced intensity. As appropriate, we discuss some of the benefits and limitations of these advances in instrumentation and of different experimental approaches for studying non-integral spin quadrupolar nuclei in solids.

Quadrupolar and chemical shift tensors characterized by 2D multiple-quantum NMR spectroscopy

The present work discusses a new 2D NMR method for characterizing the principal values and relative orientations of the electric field gradient and the chemical shift tensors of half-integer quadrupolar sites. The technique exploits the different contributions that quadrupolar and shielding interactions impart on the evolution of multiple-quantum and of single-quantum coherences, in order to obtain 2D powder lineshapes that are highly sensitive to these nuclear spin coupling parameters. Different spinning variants of this experiment were assayed, but it was concluded that a static version can yield the highest sensitivity to the values of the principal components and to the relative geometries of the local coupling tensors. It was found that correlating the central transition evolution with the highest available order of the spin coherence was also helpful for maximizing this spectral information. Good agreement between data obtained on 87Rb (S = 32) and 59Co (S = 72) samples and ideal theoretical lineshape predictions of this experiment was obtained, provided that heterogeneities in the multiple-quantum excitation and conversion processes were suitably accounted by procedures similar to those described in the spin-(1/2) multiple-quantum NMR literature. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Multiple-quantum MAS NMR spectroscopy of spin-3/2 quadrupolar spin systems using shaped pulses

An investigation of the effect of shaping the pulses in multiple-quantum magic-angle nuclear magnetic resonance experiments was carried out on polycrystalline samples containing spin-32 quadrupolar nuclear spins. Both theoretical analysis and numerical simulations show that there exist types of shaped pulses that are more advantageous than the usual rectangular pulses in exciting multiple-quantum coherences and converting these into single-quantum coherences or zero-quantum coherences (in z-filtering cases). The sensitivities can be enhanced without loss of resolution or increasing the RF offset dependences. Moreover, properly shaped pulses can moderate the requirements on the RF power and sample spinning speeds. Especially important for application purposes is the finding that lattice site quantification can also be improved by the use of certain shaped pulses.

Analysis of the anisotropic dimension in the RIACT (II) multiple quantum MAS NMR experiment for I = 3/2 nuclei

Numerical simulations of the anisotropic dimension of the Rotation-Induced Adiabatic Coherence Transfer (RIACT) MQ experiment have been performed as a function of the asymmetry parameter, eta, for different spacings between the triple quantum (3Q) excitation and 3Q to single quantum (1Q) reconversion pulses. Large distortions of the spectra are observed, in comparison to the spectra obtained with 1D MAS NMR methods. The method is very sensitive to the relative orientation of the quadrupolar tensor and rotor axis, and signal can only be obtained from a maximum of 60% of the powder. The intensity varies with the spacing between the two pulses, t1, reaching a minimum of 30% when t1 is either a multiple of a full rotor period (n tau(r)) or for (n + 1/2) rotor periods, for pulse lengths (tau1SL) of a quarter of a rotor period. The maximum of 60% is obtained when t1 = n tau(r) - tau1SL. Experimental spectra were acquired for anhydrous Na2HPO4. Good fits were obtained between the experimental and simulated spectra, even for the non-rotor synchronized experiment, by choosing fixed values of t1. The simulations allowed the quadrupole coupling constants and asymmetry parameters to be extracted from the experimental data.

Triple quantum MQMAS spectroscopy of 59Co(I = 7/2) in Na3Co(NO2)6 and trans-Co[(en2)(NO2)2]NO3 interplay between the quadrupole coupling and anisotropic shielding tensors

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the interplay between the chemical shielding anisotropy and quadrupole interaction in MQMAS spectra. 59Co in the compounds Na3Co(NO2)6 and trans-Co[(en2)(NO2)2]NO3 provides model systems for such an investigation. Furthermore, only few results have been reported on the application of the MQMAS method to a spin I = 7/2. The possibilities of the MQMAS spectroscopy for determining the relative orientation of the two tensors and its advantage over previous techniques are discussed. Reported experimental spectra at different spinning speeds of Na3Co(NO2)6 are accurately reproduced by our theoretical simulations. The calculations are based on a recent approach, summarized in the present paper, which allows one to perform efficient simulations of MQMAS spectra including all interactions and their time-dependence throughout the experiment. This is necessary for calculating accurate MQMAS spectra including the spinning sideband pattern. In the case of trans-Co[(en2)(NO2)2]NO3 where the quadrupolar interaction and chemical shielding are stronger and their axes are non-coincident, the MQMAS spectrum is strongly distorted due to the unsufficient spinning speed and RF power. In this case, MAS at different spinning speeds is shown to provide valuable information.

Dipolar recoupling in MAS spectra of biological solids

In combination with magic angle spinning, dipolar recoupling yields solid state NMR spectral assignments and provides constraints on internuclear distances and torsion angles. The method offers a fresh approach to structural studies of a variety of systems that cannot be examined with conventional tools available to structural biology.

Five-quantum coherence of I = 52 nuclei: 27Al in an Al2O3 single crystal

Optimal conditions were calculated for excitation and detection of the five-quantum coherence of quadrupolar nuclei with I = 52 in single crystals, observed by the two-pulse sequence (theta1)x - tau1 - (theta2)alpha - tau2, where alpha is the phase cycling angle. Variations in the pulse lengths, the relative values of the nutation frequency omega1 = gammaB1, and the quadrupolar frequency omegaQ as well as in the resonance offset were taken into account. In addition, the effect of the pulse length on the intensity of spectral lines was considered. Theoretical results were compared with experiments on 27Al nuclei in an Al2O3 single crystal. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

Resolution enhancement in multiple-quantum MAS NMR spectroscopy

Two techniques for resolution and sensitivity enhancement are introduced in multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS spectroscopy of rigid solids. The first makes use of ultrafast MAS with spinning frequencies of up to 35 kHz, while the second combines MAS at moderately fast spinning frequencies of about 13 kHz with multiple-pulse (MP) dipolar decoupling. For the latter approach, a semiwindowless WHH-4 sequence is applied during the MQ evolution period (MQ dimension) and/or detection period (single-quantum dimension). In the MQ dimension, the MP sequence has to be supplemented by two bracketing pulses in order to preserve the order and the intensities of the evolving MQ coherences. Double-quantum 1H NMR spectra of l-alanine recorded using both decoupling techniques are shown and compared to each other. Triple-quantum 1H NMR spectra under ultrafast MAS conditions are also presented.

Triple, quintuple and higher order multiple quantum MAS NMR of quadrupolar nuclei

The optimization of the coherence transfers involved in five, seven and nine-quantum versions of the recently discovered MQMAS technique, is analysed numerically. Data reported in this paper may serve as starting parameters for the experiment set up. An analysis of the intensity and resolution given by each type of experiment is performed, which confirms the need to use very high rf fields for MQ transfers. It follows that five-quantum is achievable rather easily but the use of seven and nine-quantum MAS experiments becomes increasingly difficult due to the demand for high rf power and decreasing sensitivity. The advantages of using the z-filter MQMAS method with respect to a two-pulse sequence are analysed. The method for qualitatively and quantitatively interpret the MQMAS spectra is described. The nature of the spinning side bands along the multiple quantum dimension is explained. It is shown that the rotor synchronization can be conveniently used to eliminate these side bands, but only for 3QMAS experiments. The use of the multiple-quantum method in combination with static samples and VAS, DAS and DOR techniques is finally discussed.

Five quantum coherence of I=5/2 nuclei: 27Al in polycrystalline AlCl3

Optimal conditions were calculated for the excitation and detection of the five quantum coherence of quadrupolar nuclei with I = 5/2 in powder samples, observed by the two-pulse sequence (theta1)x - tau1 - (theta2)alpha - tau2, where alpha is the phase cycling angle. We varied the pulse lengths and the relative values of the nutation frequency omega1 = gammaB1 and the quadrupolar frequency omegaQ. Also, the effect of the resonance offset was studied under optimal conditions. Besides, the conditions for obtaining the maximal echo amplitude after the two-pulse sequence with alpha = y were found. Theoretical results were compared with experiments on 27Al nuclei in polycrystalline AlCl3.

A 27Al MAS, MQMAS and off-resonance nutation NMR study of aluminium containing silica-based sol-gel materials

Aluminium containing hybrid materials were prepared via the sol-gel method using aluminium sec-butoxide complexed with ethylacetoacetate (Al(OBus)2EAA or Al(OBus)3/EAA mixtures). As silanes, phenyltrimethoxysilane (PhTMS) or phenyltriethoxysilane (PhTES), 3-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (Glymo) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) were used. After room temperature drying of the samples the 27Al single pulse excitation (SPE) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR shows that octahedral (5 ppm) and tetrahedral (55 ppm) coordinated aluminium species are present in the materials. The relative amount of these two species depends on the preparation method. However, the Al(IV)/Al(VI) ratio is lower than 3 (typically 2.3) in all materials, indicating the presence of a small amount of an aluminate phase. Annealing of the samples at 100, 150 and 200 degrees C results in the formation of an extra signal at 30 ppm (peak maximum measured at 11.7 T). Based on the resonance frequency this signal is generally assigned to a pentahedrally coordinated aluminium species. Hydration/dehydration processes of annealed samples were studied with 27Al SPE MAS NMR, multiple-quantum MAS NMR (MQMAS) and off-resonance nutation NMR. Upon hydration of the annealed sample the signal intensity around 30 ppm decreases in intensity and at the same time the intensity of the signal around 55 ppm increases by the same amount (tetrahedrally coordinated aluminium). The MQMAS spectra reveal that the signal around 30 ppm is not caused by a fivefold-coordinated aluminium species but mainly by tetrahedrally coordinated aluminium species in a distorted environment, experiencing large quadrupole induced shifts and small chemical shifts due to conformational changes in the polymeric network. From the MQMAS NMR spectra it can be concluded that the linebroadening observed in the 27Al MAS NMR spectra is due to both a distribution in isotropic chemical shifts and a distribution in quadrupole coupling constants (Cqcc = e2qQ/h). Hydration of the sample results in a decrease of the average Cqcc for the tetrahedrally coordinated aluminium from 6 to 4 MHz, whereas the average Cqcc of the octahedrally coordinated aluminium is hardly influenced (4 MHz). These MQMAS results are confirmed by off-resonance nutation experiments.

Effect of 1H-decoupling in two-dimensional multiple-quantum MAS NMR spectroscopy of 23Na in a hydrous layered silicate

In order to check the efficiency of high-power 1H decoupling when used with the two-dimensional multiple-quantum MAS method recently proposed to obtain isotropic spectra from quadrupolar nuclei, we applied this new technique to 23Na NMR for a hydrous layered silicate compound, makatite, with and without 1H decoupling. A remarkable improvement of the spectral resolution in the isotropic dimension was observed by the decoupling, showing that it is effective in the 2D MQ-MAS method and suggesting that proton decoupling should be generally applied in 23Na experiments concerning these kinds of compound.

Quantitative study of the short range order in B2O3 and B2S3 by MAS and two-dimensional triple-quantum MAS 11B NMR

Two-dimensional multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) NMR and MAS NMR of 11B at various magnetic fields, were applied to elucidate the structure of vitreous (glassy) boron trioxide (v-B2O3), vitreous boron trisulfide (v-B2S3) and crystalline boron trisulfide (c-B2S3). These techniques, when combined with computer simulations of the resulting spectra, provide the isotropic chemical shifts and the quadrupole parameters, as well as a quantitative measure of the intensities of various boron resonances. The MAS NMR of v-B2O3 produced overlapping anisotropic lineshapes corresponding to the -1/2<-->1/2 transition in two distinct types of BO3 units with 3(+/-0.08):] intensity ratio. A combination of MAS and the multiple-quantum method resulted in a better resolved, isotropic 11B spectrum of v-B2O3. A remarkable enhancement of resolution of the MQMAS NMR proved instrumental in finding and identifying various impurities present in v-B2S3 and c-B2S3. In addition to the resonances from boron in two types of BS3 groups, four other structural units, BOS2, BO2S, BO3 and BS4, were elucidated from the spectra of vitreous and crystalline samples. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as the magnitude of the B0 and B1 fields, on the resolution of the MAS and MQMAS techniques are also shown.

Multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning NMR with cross-polarization: spectral editing of high-resolution spectra of quadrupolar nuclei

An experiment is presented that combines the multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning (MQMAS) technique with cross-polarization (CP). As a preliminary test of this new method, we measured and compared the 27Al 3QMAS and 19F-->27Al CP 3QMAS spectra of a fluorinated AlPO4 aluminophosphate. Complete discrimination between the fluorinated and nonfluorinated Al sites was easily achieved, which demonstrates the usefulness of CP MQMAS for spectral editing. Future applications of this experiment will include other spin pairs and heteronuclear correlation NMR spectroscopy.