Low-power cross polarization in fast magic-angle spinning NMR experiments

Modulation of cross polarization in motionally averaged solids by Variable Angle Spinning NMR

In systems where the dipolar couplings are partially averaged by molecular motion, cross-polarization is modulated by sample spinning. The cross-polariation efficiency in Variable Angle Spinning (VAS) and Switched Angle Spinning (SAS) experiments on mobile samples is therefore strongly dependent on the spinning angle. We describe simulations and experimental measurements of these effects over a range of spinning angles from 0° to 90°.

A practical guide for the setup of a 1H-31P-13C double cross-polarization (DCP) experiment

O-phospho-L-threonine is a convenient sample to setup a (1)H-(31)P-(13)C double cross-polarization (DCP) Hartmann-Hahn match. The (1)H-(31)P-(13)C technique is extremely sensitive to the rate of the sample spinning. Both zero-quantum (ZQ) and double-quantum (DQ) cross-polarization operate at an average spinning rate (6-7 kHz). At higher spinning rates (10 kHz), the DQCP mechanism dominates and leads to a reduction of signal intensity, in particular for lower (31)P RF field strength. The application of two shape pulses during the second cross-polarization greatly improves the signal to noise ratio allowing the recording of better quality spectra. (31)P-(13)C spectrally induced filtering in combination with cross-polarization (SPECIFIC-CP) experiments can be carried out under ZQCP and DQCP conditions if careful attention is paid to the choice of RF field amplitudes and carriers Ω. Application of 1D and 2D (1)H-(31)P-(13)C experiments is demonstrated on model samples; disodium ATP hydrate and O-phospho-L-tyrosine.

Tailored low-power cross-polarization under fast magic-angle spinning

High static magnetic fields and very fast magic-angle spinning (MAS) promise to improve resolution and sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments. The fast MAS regime has permitted the development of low-power cross-polarization schemes, such as second-order cross-polarization (SOCP), which prevent heat deposition in the sample. Those schemes are however limited in bandwidth, as weak radio-frequency (RF) fields only cover a small chemical shift range for rare nuclei (e.g. (13)C). Another consideration is that the efficiency of cross-polarization is very sensitive to magnetization decay that occurs during the spin-lock pulse on the abundant nuclei (e.g. (1)H). Having characterized this decay in glutamine at 60 kHz MAS, we propose two complementary strategies to tailor cross-polarization to desired spectral regions at low RF power. In the case of multiple sites with small chemical shift dispersion, a larger bandwidth for SOCP is obtained by slightly increasing the RF power while avoiding recoupling conditions that lead to fast spin-lock decay. In the case of two spectral regions with large chemical shift offset, an extension of the existing low-power schemes, called MOD-CP, is introduced. It consists of a spin-lock on (1)H and an amplitude-modulated spin-lock on the rare nucleus. The range of excited chemical shifts is assessed by experimental excitation profiles and numerical simulation of an I(2)S spin system. All SOCP-based schemes exhibit higher sensitivity than high-power CP schemes, as demonstrated on solid (glutamine) and semi-solid (hydrated, micro-crystalline ubiquitin) samples.

Operator-based Floquet theory in solid-state NMR

This article reviews the application of operator-based Floquet theory in solid-state NMR. Basic expressions for calculating effective Hamiltonians based on van Vleck perturbation theory are reviewed for problems with a single frequency or multiple incommensurate frequencies. Such a treatment allows calculation of effective Hamiltonians for resonant and non-resonant problems. Examples from literature are given for single-mode to triple-mode Floquet problems, covering a wide range of applications in solid-state NMR under magic-angle spinning and radio-frequency irradiation of a single nucleus or multiple nuclei.