Chromatographic NMR in NMR solvents

ViscY NMR experiments in phosphoric acid as a viscous solvent for individualization of small molecules within mixtures by spin diffusion

The analysis of small molecules within complex mixtures is a particularly difficult task when dealing with the study of metabolite mixtures or chemical reaction media. This issue has fostered in recent years an active search for effective and practical solutions. In this context, the ViscY NMR approach has been recently proposed. ViscY collectively designates the NMR experiments that take advantage of spin diffusion in highly viscous solvents or solvent blends for the individualization of the NMR spectra of small molecule mixture components. Two viscous media were prepared from ortho-phosphoric acid (85%) solution by dilution with either D2O or DMSO-d6, thus providing solvent blends with slightly different polarities in which all liquid-state NMR experiments can be carried out easily. Two mixtures, one of four structurally close dipeptides and one of four low-polarity phosphorus-containing compounds, were used for the method assessment, using ViscY experiments such as homonuclear selective 1D and 2D 1H NOESY experiments, heteronuclear 2D 1H-15N/1H-31P HSQC-NOESY and 1H-13C/1H-15N/1H-31P NOAH experiments.

Tailoring the nuclear Overhauser effect for the study of small and medium-sized molecules by solvent viscosity manipulation

The nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) is a consequence of cross-relaxation between nuclear spins mediated by dipolar coupling. Its sensitivity to internuclear distances has made it an increasingly important tool for the determination of through-space atom proximity relationships within molecules of sizes ranging from the smallest systems to large biopolymers. With the support of sophisticated FT-NMR techniques, the NOE plays an essential role in structure elucidation, conformational and dynamic investigations in liquid-state NMR. The efficiency of magnetization transfer by the NOE depends on the molecular rotational correlation time, whose value depends on solution viscosity. The magnitude of the NOE between ¹H nuclei varies from +50% when molecular tumbling is fast to -100% when it is slow, the latter case corresponding to the spin diffusion limit. In an intermediate tumbling regime, the NOE may be vanishingly small. Increasing the viscosity of the solution increases the motional correlation time, and as a result, otherwise unobservable NOEs may be revealed and brought close to the spin diffusion limit. The goal of this review is to report the resolution of structural problems that benefited from the manipulation of the negative NOE by means of viscous solvents, including examples of molecular structure determination, conformation elucidation and mixture analysis (the ViscY method).

Incorporated diffusion ordered heteronuclear multiple bond correlation spectroscopy, 3D iDOSY-HMBC. Merging of diffusion delay with long polarization transfer delay of HMBC

3D iDOSY-HMBC pulse sequences allow the simplification of HMBC data of mixtures via separation in the diffusion domain. The presented methods utilize incorporated DOSY approach, iDOSY, where the existing delays of the basic pulse sequence are utilized for diffusion attenuation. In the simplest form of the proposed 3D iDOSY-HMBC sequences, no extra delays or RF-pulses were required, only two diffusion gradients were added within HMBC polarization transfer delay.

Matrix-assisted DOSY

The analysis of mixtures by NMR spectroscopy is challenging. Diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy enables a pseudo-separation of species based on differences in their translational diffusion coefficients. Under the right circumstances, this is a powerful technique; however, when molecules diffuse at similar rates separation in the diffusion dimension can be poor. In addition, spectral overlap also limits resolution and can make interpretation challenging. Matrix-assisted diffusion NMR seeks to improve resolution in the diffusion dimension by utilising the differential interaction of components in the mixture with an additive to the solvent. Tuning these matrix-analyte interactions allows the diffusion resolution to be optimised. This review presents the background to matrix-assisted diffusion experiments, surveys the wide range of matrices employed, including chromatographic stationary phases, surfactants and polymers, and demonstrates the current state of the art.

Polar mixture analysis by NMR under spin diffusion conditions in viscous sucrose solution and agarose gel

A viscous sucrose solution is used for the first time to access individual NMR spectra of mixture components under spin diffusion conditions.

Exploring the Role of Solvent on Carbohydrate-Aryl Interactions by Diffusion NMR-Based Studies

Carbohydrate-protein interactions play an important role in many molecular recognition processes. An exquisite combination of multiple factors favors the interaction of the receptor with one specific type of sugar, whereas others are excluded. Stacking CH-aromatic interactions within the binding site provide a relevant contribution to the stabilization of the resulting sugar-protein complex. Being experimentally difficult to detect and analyze, the key CH-π interaction features have been very often dissected using a variety of techniques and simple model systems. In the present work, diffusion NMR spectroscopy has been employed to separate the components of sugar mixtures in different solvents on the basis of their differential ability to interact through CH-π interactions with one particular aromatic cosolute in solution. The experimental data show that the properties of the solvent did also influence the diffusion behavior of the sugars present in the mixture, inhibiting or improving their separation. Overall, the results showed that, for the considered monosaccharide derivatives, their diffusion coefficient values and, consequently, their apparent molecular sizes and/or shapes depend on the balance between solute/cosolute as well as solute/solvent interactions. Thus, in certain media and in the presence of the aromatic cosolute, the studied saccharides that are more suited to display CH-π interactions exhibited a lower diffusion coefficient than the noncomplexing sugars in the mixture. However, when dissolved in another medium, the interaction with the solvent strongly competes with that of the aromatic cosolute.

Silica sol assisted chromatographic NMR spectroscopy for resolution of trans- and cis-isomers

Chromatographic NMR spectroscopy can separate the mixtures of species with significantly different molecular size, but generally fails for isomeric species. Herein, we reported the resolution of trans- and cis-isomers and their structural analogue, which are different in molecular shapes, but similar in mass, were greatly enhanced in the presence of silica sol. The mixtures of maleic acid, fumaric acid and succinic acid, and the mixtures of trans- and cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids, were distinguished by virtue of their different degrees of interaction with silica sol. Moreover, we found mixed solvents could improve the spectral resolution of DOSY spectra of mixtures.

Matrix-assisted diffusion-ordered spectroscopy

Matrix-assisted diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy has the potential to transform mixture analysis by DOSY NMR.

Molecular signal suppression by in situ microextraction in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The detailed characterization of complex mixtures by NMR is often hampered by the presence of signals from uninformative compounds, the resonances of which overlap with those of the molecules of interest. We provide here a proof of principle for an approach to NMR signal suppression in complex samples using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPS). Addition of a few milligrams of polymer to a solution traps the target molecule in typical micromolar to millimolar concentration, thus achieving in situ signal suppression, without altering any other spectral features. This method minimized any manipulation or perturbation of the spectrum and was applied to a complex mixture of known compounds and to a plant extract, in both cases spiked with a compound (bisphenol A), which was subsequently removed by selective binding to a complementary MIP. What is described in this report is comparable with microextraction and may in due course be applied to a large number of analytical challenges.

Polydimethylsiloxane: a general matrix for high-performance chromatographic NMR spectroscopy

The detection and structural characterization of the components of a mixture is a challenging task. Therefore, the development of a facile and general method that enables both the separation and the structural characterization of the components is desired. Diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) with the aid of a matrix is a promising tool for this purpose. However, because the currently existing matrices only separate limited components, the application of the DOSY technique is restricted. Herein we introduce a new versatile matrix, poly(dimethylsiloxane), which can fully separate many mixtures of different structural types by liquid-state NMR spectroscopy. With poly(dimethylsiloxane), liquid-state chromatographic NMR spectroscopy could become a general approach for the structural elucidation of mixtures of compounds.

Evaluation of the separation performance of polyvinylpyrrolidone as a virtual stationary phase for chromatographic NMR

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as a virtual stationary phase to separate p-xylene, benzyl alcohol, and p-methylphenol by the chromatographic NMR technique. The effects of concentration and weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of PVP, solvent viscosity, solvent polarity, and sample temperature on the resolution of these components were investigated. It was found that both higher PVP concentration and higher PVP Mw caused the increase of diffusion resolution for the three components. Moreover, the diffusion resolution did not change at viscosity-higher solvents. Moreover, the three components showed different resolution at different solvents. As temperature increased, the diffusion resolution between p-xylene and benzyl alcohol gradually increased, and the one between p-xylene and p-methylphenol slightly increased from 278 to 298 K and then decreased above 298 K. It was also found that the polarity of the analytes played an important role for the separation by affecting the diffusion coefficient.

New insights into the microemulsion-based chromatographic NMR resolution mechanism and its application to fragrance/flavor molecules

The NMR chromatography method is applied to a class of molecules with similar physical properties. We correlate the separation ability of microemulsions to the physical properties of the analyzed molecules. Flavor and aroma compounds are very widespread. Compositional analysis is in many cases tedious. Any new method of analysis is always useful and challenging. Here we show a new application to a class of fragrance molecules, with only a moderate variation in their chemical and physical characteristics. Up to 11 selected compounds in one mixture are resolved in one spectrum by NMR chromatography, despite the similarity of the compounds. The differences between O/W and W/O microemulsions and their resolution mechanism as applied to fragrance molecules are explained in terms of hydrophilicity and lipophilicity and effective critical packing parameters of the microemulsions. The observed diffusion rates are shown to correlate with solvation parameters. These results can be used to estimate the diffusion rates of molecules to be separated, allowing selection of the microemulsion or NMR chromatography solvent appropriate for each specific application.

Resolving overlaps in diffusion encoded spectra using band-selective pulses in a 3D BEST-DOSY experiment

A novel diffusion-edited 3D NMR experiment that incorporates a BEST-HMQC pulse sequence in its implementation is presented. Heteronuclear 3D DOSY NMR experiments are useful in elucidating the diffusion coefficients of individual constituents of a mixture, especially in cases where the proton NMR 2D DOSY spectra show considerable overlap. The present 3D BEST-DOSY pulse sequence provides a more sensitive and less time-consuming alternative to standard 3D HMQC-DOSY experiments. Cleanly separated subspectra of individual mixture components are obtained, leading to the determination of diffusion coefficients with better accuracy. The feasibility of the technique is demonstrated on a mixture of amino acids, on a mixture of small molecules with similar diffusion coefficients, and on a complex mixture with large dynamic range (commercial gasoline). The implications of using adiabatic decoupling schemes and band-selective shaped pulses for selective BEST-DOSY experiments on proteins are also discussed.

Glycerol and glycerol carbonate as ultraviscous solvents for mixture analysis by NMR

NMR of weakly polar analytes in an apolar ultraviscous solvent has recently been proposed for mixture analysis as a pertinent alternative to the DOSY experiment. The present article reports the first use of glycerol and glycerol carbonate as polar solvents for the NMR analysis of a model mixture of dipeptides. This work demonstrates the high potentiality of these solvents for the analysis of mixtures made of polar and potentially bioactive compounds. Medium-sized molecules slowly reorient in glycerol and glycerol carbonate under particular temperature conditions, so that solute resonances may show spin diffusion in NOESY spectra, thus opening the way to mixture analysis. Glycerol and glycerol carbonate have turned out to be ultraviscous solvents of choice for the individualization of four structurally close mixed dipeptides: Leu-Val, Leu-Tyr, Gly-Tyr and Ala-Tyr by means of 1D and 2D NOESY experiments. Selective sample excitation and signal detection were implemented to eliminate the intense proton signals of the non-deuterated solvents. Moreover, the recording of a multiplet selective 2D NOESY-TOCSY has shown that the analytical power of NMR in highly viscous solvents is not limited to the extraction of mixture component 1D subspectra but may also yield some supplementary information about atom connectivity within components.

Characterization of dimeric chiral lithium amide structures derived from N-isopropyl-O- triisopropylsilyl valinol

The dimeric structure is characterized for a chiral amide base complex consisting of an (S)-N-isopropyl-O-triisopropylsilyl valinol ligand and lithium. The complex is characterized by a variety of NMR techniques, including multinuclear one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) as well as diffusion coefficient-formula weight (D-fw) correlation analyses. Spartan calculations are presented which support the structural assignment. This structural characterization leads to an explanation of the behavior and the reactivity of these complexes in solution.

NMR chromatography using microemulsion systems

NMR spectroscopy is an excellent tool for structural analysis of pure compounds. However, for mixtures, it performs poorly because of overlapping signals. Diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) can be used to separate the spectra of compounds with widely differing molecular weights, but the separation is usually insufficient. NMR "chromatographic" methods have been developed to increase the diffusion separation but these usually introduced solids into the NMR sample that reduce resolution. Using nanostructured dispersed media, such as microemulsions, eliminates the need for suspensions of solids and brings NMR chromatography into the mainstream of NMR analytical techniques. DOSY was used in this study to resolve spectra of mixtures with no increase in line-width as compared to regular solutions. Components of a mixture are differentially dissolved into the separate phases of the microemulsions. Several examples of previously reported microemulsions and those specifically developed for this purpose were used here. These include a fully dilutable microemulsion, a fluorinated microemulsion, and a fully deuterated microemulsion. Log(diffusion) difference enhancements of up to 1.7 orders of magnitude were observed for compounds that have similar diffusion rates in conventional solvents. Examples of commercial pharmaceutical drugs were also analyzed via this new technique, and the spectra of up to six components were resolved from one sample.

New insights into silica-based NMR "chromatography"

Silica is used as an important component for NMR "chromatography". In this study the effect of the binding strength to silica of a variety of compounds on their diffusion rate is measured for the first time. Over two orders of magnitude of diffusion difference enhancement was obtained in the presence of silica for some compounds. An explanation of the enhancement is given that also allows one to predict the "chromatographic" behavior of new compounds or mixtures. The binding strength is divided into categories of weakly bound, singly bound and multiply bound. Carboxylates, sulfonates, and diols are found to be particularly strongly bound and to diffuse up to 2½ orders of magnitude more slowly in the presence of silica.

Characterization of binding affinities in a chromatographic system by suspended state HR/MAS NMR spectroscopy

In the current work a racemate of (R)- and (S)-benzylmandelate was separated with a stereoselective polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phase by HPLC. To elucidate the occurring chiral molecular recognition processes in the heterogeneous system used, NMR spectroscopy was chosen under high resolution/magic angle spinning (HR/MAS) NMR conditions in the suspended state. Therefore, and as a proof of concept, a combination of several NMR methods such as spin-lattice relaxation time (T(1)) measurements (T(1)), the saturation transfer difference, and the 2D experiment of the transferred nuclear overhauser enhancement spectroscopy technique were applied. With HR/MAS NMR it is feasible to combine NMR and chromatography to achieve further insights into the separation process.