Double-quantum-filtered rotational-resonance MAS NMR in the presence of large chemical shielding anisotropies

Structural analysis of uniformly (13)C-labelled solids from selective angle measurements at rotational resonance

We demonstrate that individual H-C-C-H torsional angles in uniformly labelled organic solids can be estimated by selective excitation of (13)C double-quantum coherences under magic-angle spinning at rotational resonance. By adapting a straightforward one-dimensional experiment described earlier [T. Karlsson, M. Eden, H. Luhman, M.H. Levitt, J. Magn. Reson. 145 (2000) 95-107], a double-quantum filtered spectrum selective for Calpha and Cbeta of uniformly labelled L-[(13)C,(15)N]valine is obtained with 25% efficiency. The evolution of Calpha-Cbeta double-quantum coherence under the influence of the dipolar fields of bonded protons is monitored to provide a value of the Halpha-Calpha-Cbeta-Hbeta torsional angle that is consistent with the crystal structure. In addition, double-quantum filtration selective for C6 and C1' of uniformly labelled [(13)C,(15)N]uridine is achieved with 12% efficiency for a (13)C-(13)C distance of 2.5A, yielding a reliable estimate of the C6-H and C1'-H projection angle defining the relative orientations of the nucleoside pyrimidine and ribose rings. This procedure will be useful, in favourable cases, for structural analysis of fully labelled small molecules such as receptor ligands that are not readily synthesised with labels placed selectively at structurally diagnostic sites.

Theory and applications of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

We present the theoretical principles of supercycled symmetry-based recoupling sequences in solid-state magic-angle-spinning NMR. We discuss the construction procedure of the SR26 pulse sequence, which is a particularly robust sequence for double-quantum homonuclear dipole-dipole recoupling. The supercycle removes destructive higher-order average Hamiltonian terms and renders the sequence robust over long time intervals. We demonstrate applications of the SR26 sequence to double-quantum spectroscopy, homonuclear spin counting, and determination of the relative orientations of chemical shift anisotropy tensors.

Double-quantum filtered 1H MAS NMR spectra

It is shown that straightforward double-quantum filtered (1)H MAS NMR experiments yield spectral lineshapes that permit to estimate the minimum number of (1)H spins in a cluster. The approach may offer an alternative to multiple-quantum experiments for the characterisation of (1)H spin clusters of moderate size. The duration of the double-quantum excitation period has to be chosen suitably, it is necessary to find a practical compromise between optimum double-quantum filtration efficiency and optimum information content of the spectral lineshapes. Some (1)H MAS NMR experiments on partially deuterated maleic acid are reported as well as numerical simulations.

MAS NMR with and without double-quantum filtration at and near the n=0 rotational resonance condition

Spectral lineshapes of MAS NMR spectra of dipolar (re)coupled spin pairs exhibiting considerable chemical shielding anisotropies at and near the so-called n=0 rotational resonance (R2) condition are considered. The n=0 R2 condition is found to be not extremely sharp. Anisotropic interaction parameters such as chemical shielding tensor orientations and the magnitude of the dipolar coupling constant remain sensitively encoded in such lineshapes even when differences in isotropic chemical shielding values of up to 400 Hz (corresponding to ca. half the size of the dipolar coupling constant) are present. Additional double-quantum filtration (DQF) may enhance the sensitivity of spectral lineshapes to anisotropic interaction parameters for even larger differences in isotropic chemical shielding values. The dependence of the DQF efficiency on spin-system parameters as well as on external parameters (Larmor and MAS frequencies) is investigated. Away from R2 conditions a trend to lower DQF efficiencies is found whereas some spin-system parameters are more sensitively encoded in the corresponding spectral lineshapes. Our study is based on numerical simulations, with the known parameters of the 31P spin pair in Na4P2O7.10H2O representing our model case.

Double-quantum filtered MAS NMR in the presence of chemical shielding anisotropies and direct dipolar and J couplings

Double-quantum filtered MAS NMR spectra of an isolated homonuclear spin-1/2 pair are considered, at and away from rotational resonance conditions. The pulse sequence used is the solid-state NMR equivalent of double-quantum filtered COSY, known from solution-state NMR. The 119Sn spin pair in [(chex3Sn)2S] is characterized by a difference in isotropic chemical shielding smaller than the two chemical shielding anisotropies and by direct dipolar and isotropic J-coupling constants of similar magnitudes. At rotational resonance, one-dimensional double-quantum filtered 119Sn lineshapes yield the relative orientation of the two 119Sn chemical shielding tensors. Good double-quantum filtration efficiencies are found at and away from rotational resonance conditions, despite the presence of large chemical shielding anisotropies. Numerical simulations illustrate the interplay of the direct dipolar and J-coupling pathways and identify the latter as the main pathway even at rotational resonance conditions.