Compensated DRAMA sequence for homonuclear dipolar recoupling under magic-angle spinning

Dipolar Recoupling in Rotating Solids

Magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has evolved significantly over the past three decades and established itself as a vital tool for the structural analysis of biological macromolecules and materials. This review delves into the development and application of dipolar recoupling techniques in MAS NMR, which are crucial for obtaining detailed structural and dynamic information. We discuss a variety of homonuclear and heteronuclear recoupling methods which are essential for measuring spatial restraints and explain in detail the spin dynamics that these sequences generate. We also explore recent developments in high spinning frequency MAS, proton detection, and dynamic nuclear polarization, underscoring their importance in advancing biomolecular NMR. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive account of contemporary dipolar recoupling methods, their principles, and their application to structural biology and materials, highlighting significant contributions to the field and emerging techniques that enhance resolution and sensitivity in MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Multiple-quantum spin counting in magic-angle-spinning NMR via low-power symmetry-based dipolar recoupling

By using a symmetry-based R2(8)(1)R2(8)(-1) double-quantum (2Q) dipolar recoupling sequence, we demonstrate high-order multiple-quantum coherence (MQC) excitation at fast magic-angle spinning (MAS) frequencies up to 34 kHz. This scheme combines several attractive features, such as a relatively high dipolar scaling factor, good compensation to rf-errors, isotropic and anisotropic chemical shifts, as well as an ultra-low radio-frequency (rf) power requirement. The latter translates into nutation frequencies below 30 kHz for MAS rates up to 60 kHz, thereby permitting rf application for very long excitation periods without risk of damaging the NMR probehead or sample, while the compensation to chemical shifts improves as the MAS rate increases. (31)P MQC spin counting is demonstrated on powders of calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH) and anhydrous sodium diphosphate (Na4P2O7), from which all even coherence orders up to 30 and 14 were detected, respectively, over the respective MAS ranges of 15-24 kHz and 20-34 kHz. The amplitude distributions among the (31)P MQC orders depend on the precise nutation frequency during recoupling, despite that the highest detected order was relatively insensitive to this parameter. An observed gradual transition from a Gaussian to exponential functionality of the MQC amplitude-profile is discussed in relation to the prevailing approach to derive spin-cluster sizes by fitting the MQC amplitude-distribution to a Gaussian decay, where minor systematic deviations between the model and experimental data are frequently reported.

Measurements of 13C multiple-quantum coherences in amyloid fibrils under magic-angle spinning

The excitation and detection of high-order multiple quantum coherences among (13)C nuclear spins are demonstrated in the samples of [1-(13)C]-L-alanine and (13)C labeled amyloid fibrils at a spinning frequency of 20 kHz. The technique is based on the double-quantum average Hamiltonian prepared by the DRAMA-XY4 pulse sequence. Empirically, we find that multiple supercycles are required to suppress the higher-order effects for real applications. Measurements for the fibril samples formed by the polypeptides of PrP(113-127) provide the first solid-state NMR evidence for the stacking of multiple β-sheet layers at the structural core of amyloid fibrils.

BaBa-xy16: robust and broadband homonuclear DQ recoupling for applications in rigid and soft solids up to the highest MAS frequencies

We here present a substantially improved version of the popular Back-to-Back (BaBa) homonuclear double-quantum (DQ) MAS recoupling pulse sequence. By combining the original pulse sequence with a virtual π pulse train with xy-16 phase cycling along with time-reversed DQ reconversion, a truly broadband and exceptionally robust pulse sequence is obtained. The sequence has moderate radio-frequency power requirements, amounting to only one 360° nutation per rotor cycle, it is robust with respect to rf power and tune-up errors, and its broadband performance increases with increasing spinning frequency, here tested up to 63 kHz. The experiment can be applied to many spin-1/2 nuclei in rigid solids with substantial frequency offsets and CSAs, which is demonstrated on the example of 31P NMR of a magnesium ultraphosphate, comparing experimental data with multi-spin simulations, and we also show simulations addressing the performance in 13C NMR of bio(macro)molecules. 1H-based studies of polymer dynamics are highlighted for the example of a rigid solid with strongly anisotropic mobility, represented by a polymer inclusion compound, and for the example of soft materials with weak residual dipole-dipole couplings, represented by homogeneous and inhomogeneous elastomers. We advocate the use of normalized (relaxation-corrected) DQ build-up curves for a quantitative assessment of weak average dipole-dipole couplings and even distributions thereof.