1H-Detected Biomolecular NMR under Fast Magic-Angle Spinning

Since the first pioneering studies on small deuterated peptides dating more than 20 years ago, 1H detection has evolved into the most efficient approach for investigation of biomolecular structure, dynamics, and interactions by solid-state NMR. The development of faster and faster magic-angle spinning (MAS) rates (up to 150 kHz today) at ultrahigh magnetic fields has triggered a real revolution in the field. This new spinning regime reduces the 1H-1H dipolar couplings, so that a direct detection of 1H signals, for long impossible without proton dilution, has become possible at high resolution. The switch from the traditional MAS NMR approaches with 13C and 15N detection to 1H boosts the signal by more than an order of magnitude, accelerating the site-specific analysis and opening the way to more complex immobilized biological systems of higher molecular weight and available in limited amounts. This paper reviews the concepts underlying this recent leap forward in sensitivity and resolution, presents a detailed description of the experimental aspects of acquisition of multidimensional correlation spectra with fast MAS, and summarizes the most successful strategies for the assignment of the resonances and for the elucidation of protein structure and conformational dynamics. It finally outlines the many examples where 1H-detected MAS NMR has contributed to the detailed characterization of a variety of crystalline and noncrystalline biomolecular targets involved in biological processes ranging from catalysis through drug binding, viral infectivity, amyloid fibril formation, to transport across lipid membranes.

PHRONESIS: a one-shot approach for sequential assignment of protein resonances by ultrafast MAS solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Solid‐state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy has emerged as the method of choice to analyze the structural dynamics of fibrillar, membrane‐bound, and crystalline proteins that are recalcitrant to other structural techniques. Recently, ¹H detection under fast magic angle spinning and multiple acquisition ssNMR techniques have propelled the structural analysis of complex biomacromolecules. However, data acquisition and resonance‐specific assignments remain a bottleneck for this technique. Here, we present a comprehensive multi‐acquisition experiment (PHRONESIS) that simultaneously generates up to ten 3D ¹H‐detected ssNMR spectra. PHRONESIS utilizes broadband transfer and selective pulses to drive multiple independent polarization pathways. High selectivity excitation and de‐excitation of specific resonances were achieved by high‐fidelity selective pulses that were designed using a combination of an evolutionary algorithm and artificial intelligence. We demonstrated the power of this approach with microcrystalline U‐¹³C,¹⁵N GB1 protein, reaching 100 % of the resonance assignments using one data set of ten 3D experiments. The strategy outlined in this work opens up new avenues for implementing novel ¹H‐detected multi‐acquisition ssNMR experiments to speed up and expand the application to larger biomolecular systems.

Paramagnetic NMR in solution and the solid state

The field of paramagnetic NMR has expanded considerably in recent years. This review addresses both the theoretical description of paramagnetic NMR, and the way in which it is currently practised. We provide a review of the theory of the NMR parameters of systems in both solution and the solid state. Here we unify the different languages used by the NMR, EPR, quantum chemistry/DFT, and magnetism communities to provide a comprehensive and coherent theoretical description. We cover the theory of the paramagnetic shift and shift anisotropy in solution both in the traditional formalism in terms of the magnetic susceptibility tensor, and using a more modern formalism employing the relevant EPR parameters, such as are used in first-principles calculations. In addition we examine the theory first in the simple non-relativistic picture, and then in the presence of spin-orbit coupling. These ideas are then extended to a description of the paramagnetic shift in periodic solids, where it is necessary to include the bulk magnetic properties, such as magnetic ordering at low temperatures. The description of the paramagnetic shift is completed by describing the current understanding of such shifts due to lanthanide and actinide ions. We then examine the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement, using a simple model employing a phenomenological picture of the electronic relaxation, and again using a more complex state-of-the-art theory which incorporates electronic relaxation explicitly. An additional important consideration in the solid state is the impact of bulk magnetic susceptibility effects on the form of the spectrum, where we include some ideas from the field of classical electrodynamics. We then continue by describing in detail the solution and solid-state NMR methods that have been deployed in the study of paramagnetic systems in chemistry, biology, and the materials sciences. Finally we describe a number of case studies in paramagnetic NMR that have been specifically chosen to highlight how the theory in part one, and the methods in part two, can be used in practice. The systems chosen include small organometallic complexes in solution, solid battery electrode materials, metalloproteins in both solution and the solid state, systems containing lanthanide ions, and multi-component materials used in pharmaceutical controlled-release formulations that have been doped with paramagnetic species to measure the component domain sizes.

1H magic-angle spinning NMR evolves as a powerful new tool for membrane proteins

Building on a decade of continuous advances of the community, the recent development of very fast (60 kHz and above) magic-angle spinning (MAS) probes has revolutionised the field of solid-state NMR. This new spinning regime reduces the ¹H-¹H dipolar couplings, so that direct detection of the larger magnetic moment available from ¹H is now possible at high resolution, not only in deuterated molecules but also in fully-protonated substrates. Such capabilities allow rapid "fingerprinting" of samples with a ten-fold reduction of the required sample amounts with respect to conventional approaches, and permit extensive, robust and expeditious assignment of small-to-medium sized proteins (up to ca. 300 residues), and the determination of inter-nuclear proximities, relative orientations of secondary structural elements, protein-cofactor interactions, local and global dynamics. Fast MAS and ¹H detection techniques have nowadays been shown to be applicable to membrane-bound systems. This paper reviews the strategies underlying this recent leap forward in sensitivity and resolution, describing its potential for the detailed characterization of membrane proteins.

Structural biology of supramolecular assemblies by magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy

In recent years, exciting developments in instrument technology and experimental methodology have advanced the field of magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to new heights. Contemporary MAS NMR yields atomic-level insights into structure and dynamics of an astounding range of biological systems, many of which cannot be studied by other methods. With the advent of fast MAS, proton detection, and novel pulse sequences, large supramolecular assemblies, such as cytoskeletal proteins and intact viruses, are now accessible for detailed analysis. In this review, we will discuss the current MAS NMR methodologies that enable characterization of complex biomolecular systems and will present examples of applications to several classes of assemblies comprising bacterial and mammalian cytoskeleton as well as human immunodeficiency virus 1 and bacteriophage viruses. The body of work reviewed herein is representative of the recent advancements in the field, with respect to the complexity of the systems studied, the quality of the data, and the significance to the biology.

Accelerating proton spin diffusion in perdeuterated proteins at 100 kHz MAS

Fast magic-angle spinning (>60 kHz) has many advantages but makes spin-diffusion-type proton-proton long-range polarization transfer inefficient and highly dependent on chemical-shift offset. Using 100%-HN-[²H,¹³C,¹⁵N]-ubiquitin as a model substance, we quantify the influence of the chemical-shift difference on the spin diffusion between proton spins and compare two experiments which lead to an improved chemical-shift compensation of the transfer: rotating-frame spin diffusion and a new experiment, reverse amplitude-modulated MIRROR. Both approaches enable broadband spin diffusion, but the application of the first variant is limited due to fast spin relaxation in the rotating frame. The reverse MIRROR experiment, in contrast, is a promising candidate for the determination of structurally relevant distance restraints. The applied tailored rf-irradiation schemes allow full control over the range of recoupled chemical shifts and efficiently drive spin diffusion. Here, the relevant relaxation time is the larger longitudinal relaxation time, which leads to a higher signal-to-noise ratio in the spectra.

Ultra fast magic angle spinning solid - state NMR spectroscopy of intact bone

Ultra fast magic angle spinning (MAS) has been a potent method to significantly average out homogeneous/inhomogeneous line broadening in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy. It has given a new direction to ssNMR spectroscopy with its different applications. We present here the first and foremost application of ultra fast MAS (~60 kHz) for ssNMR spectroscopy of intact bone. This methodology helps to comprehend and elucidate the organic content in the intact bone matrix with resolution and sensitivity enhancement. At this MAS speed, amino protons from organic part of intact bone start to appear in (1) H NMR spectra. The experimental protocol of ultra-high speed MAS for intact bone has been entailed with an additional insight achieved at 60 kHz.

Unraveling the complexity of protein backbone dynamics with combined (13)C and (15)N solid-state NMR relaxation measurements

Typically, protein dynamics involve a complex hierarchy of motions occurring on different time scales between conformations separated by a range of different energy barriers. NMR relaxation can in principle provide a site-specific picture of both the time scales and amplitudes of these motions, but independent relaxation rates sensitive to fluctuations in different time scale ranges are required to obtain a faithful representation of the underlying dynamic complexity. This is especially pertinent for relaxation measurements in the solid state, which report on dynamics in a broader window of time scales by more than 3 orders of magnitudes compared to solution NMR relaxation. To aid in unraveling the intricacies of biomolecular dynamics we introduce (13)C spin-lattice relaxation in the rotating frame (R1ρ) as a probe of backbone nanosecond-microsecond motions in proteins in the solid state. We present measurements of (13)C'R1ρ rates in fully protonated crystalline protein GB1 at 600 and 850 MHz (1)H Larmor frequencies and compare them to (13)C'R1, (15)N R1 and R1ρ measured under the same conditions. The addition of carbon relaxation data to the model free analysis of nitrogen relaxation data leads to greatly improved characterization of time scales of protein backbone motions, minimizing the occurrence of fitting artifacts that may be present when (15)N data is used alone. We also discuss how internal motions characterized by different time scales contribute to (15)N and (13)C relaxation rates in the solid state and solution state, leading to fundamental differences between them, as well as phenomena such as underestimation of picosecond-range motions in the solid state and nanosecond-range motions in solution.

MAS NMR of HIV-1 protein assemblies

The negative global impact of the AIDS pandemic is well known. In this perspective article, the utility of magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy to answer pressing questions related to the structure and dynamics of HIV-1 protein assemblies is examined. In recent years, MAS NMR has undergone major technological developments enabling studies of large viral assemblies. We discuss some of these evolving methods and technologies and provide a perspective on the current state of MAS NMR as applied to the investigations into structure and dynamics of HIV-1 assemblies of CA capsid protein and of Gag maturation intermediates.

High-resolution proton-detected NMR of proteins at very fast MAS

When combined with high-frequency (currently ∼60 kHz) magic-angle spinning (MAS), proton detection boosts sensitivity and increases coherence lifetimes, resulting in narrow ((1))H lines. Herein, we review methods for efficient proton detected techniques and applications in highly deuterated proteins, with an emphasis on 100% selected ((1))H site concentration for the purpose of sensitivity. We discuss the factors affecting resolution and sensitivity that have resulted in higher and higher frequency MAS. Next we describe the various methods that have been used for backbone and side-chain assignment with proton detection, highlighting the efficient use of scalar-based ((13))C-((13))C transfers. Additionally, we show new spectra making use of these schemes for side-chain assignment of methyl ((13))C-((1))H resonances. The rapid acquisition of resolved 2D spectra with proton detection allows efficient measurement of relaxation parameters used as a measure of dynamic processes. Under rapid MAS, relaxation times can be measured in a site-specific manner in medium-sized proteins, enabling the investigation of molecular motions at high resolution. Additionally, we discuss methods for measurement of structural parameters, including measurement of internuclear ((1))H-((1))H contacts and the use of paramagnetic effects in the determination of global structure.

Spin-state-selective methods in solution- and solid-state biomolecular 13C NMR

Spin-state-selective methods to achieve homonuclear decoupling in the direct acquisition dimension of (13)C detected NMR experiments have been one of the key contributors to converting (13)C detected NMR experiments into really useful tools for studying biomolecules. We discuss here in detail the various methods that have been proposed, summarize the large array of new experiments that have been developed and present applications to different kinds of proteins in different aggregation states.

A cross-polarization based rotating-frame separated-local-field NMR experiment under ultrafast MAS conditions

Rotating-frame separated-local-field solid-state NMR experiments measure highly resolved heteronuclear dipolar couplings which, in turn, provide valuable interatomic distances for structural and dynamic studies of molecules in the solid-state. Though many different rotating-frame SLF sequences have been put forth, recent advances in ultrafast MAS technology have considerably simplified pulse sequence requirements due to the suppression of proton-proton dipolar interactions. In this study we revisit a simple two-dimensional (1)H-(13)C dipolar coupling/chemical shift correlation experiment using (13)C detected cross-polarization with a variable contact time (CPVC) and systematically study the conditions for its optimal performance at 60 kHz MAS. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of a proton-detected version of the CPVC experiment. The theoretical analysis of the CPVC pulse sequence under different Hartmann-Hahn matching conditions confirms that it performs optimally under the ZQ (w1H-w1C=±wr) condition for polarization transfer. The limits of the cross polarization process are explored and precisely defined as a function of offset and Hartmann-Hahn mismatch via spin dynamics simulation and experiments on a powder sample of uniformly (13)C-labeled L-isoleucine. Our results show that the performance of the CPVC sequence and subsequent determination of (1)H-(13)C dipolar couplings are insensitive to (1)H/(13)C frequency offset frequency when high RF fields are used on both RF channels. Conversely, the CPVC sequence is quite sensitive to the Hartmann-Hahn mismatch, particularly for systems with weak heteronuclear dipolar couplings. We demonstrate the use of the CPVC based SLF experiment as a tool to identify different carbon groups, and hope to motivate the exploration of more sophisticated (1)H detected avenues for ultrafast MAS.

SedNMR: a web tool for optimizing sedimentation of macromolecular solutes for SSNMR

We have proposed solid state NMR (SSNMR) of sedimented solutes as a novel approach to sample preparation for biomolecular SSNMR without crystallization or other sample manipulations. The biomolecules are confined by high gravity--obtained by centrifugal forces either directly in a SSNMR rotor or in a ultracentrifugal device--into a hydrated non-crystalline solid suitable for SSNMR investigations. When gravity is removed, the sample reverts to solution and can be treated as any solution NMR sample. We here describe a simple web tool to calculate the relevant parameters for the success of the experiment.

Long-observation-window band-selective homonuclear decoupling: increased sensitivity and resolution in solid-state NMR spectroscopy of proteins

Sensitivity and resolution are the two fundamental obstacles to extending solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance to even larger protein systems. Here, a novel long-observation-window band-selective homonuclear decoupling (LOW BASHD) scheme is introduced that increases resolution up to a factor of 3 and sensitivity up to 1.8 by decoupling backbone alpha-carbon (C(α)) and carbonyl (C') nuclei in U-(13)C-labeled proteins during direct (13)C acquisition. This approach introduces short (<200 μs) pulse breaks into much longer (~8 ms) sampling windows to efficiently refocus the J-coupling interaction during detection while avoiding the deleterious effects on sensitivity inherent in rapid stroboscopic band-selective homonuclear decoupling techniques. A significant advantage of LOW-BASHD detection is that it can be directly incorporated into existing correlation methods, as illustrated here for 2D CACO, NCO, and NCA correlation spectroscopy applied to the β1 immunoglobulin binding domain of protein G and 3D CBCACO correlation spectroscopy applied to the α-subunit of tryptophan synthase.

Internal protein dynamics on ps to μs timescales as studied by multi-frequency (15)N solid-state NMR relaxation

A comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of the SH3 domain of chicken alpha-spectrin is presented, based upon (15)N T1 and on- and off-resonance T1ρ relaxation times obtained on deuterated samples with a partial back-exchange of labile protons under a variety of the experimental conditions, taking explicitly into account the dipolar order parameters calculated from (15)N-(1)H dipole-dipole couplings. It is demonstrated that such a multi-frequency approach enables access to motional correlation times spanning about 6 orders of magnitude. We asses the validity of different motional models based upon orientation autocorrelation functions with a different number of motional components. We find that for many residues a "two components" model is not sufficient for a good description of the data and more complicated fitting models must be considered. We show that slow motions with correlation times on the order of 1-10 μs can be determined reliably in spite of rather low apparent amplitudes (below 1 %), and demonstrate that the distribution of the protein backbone mobility along the time scale axis is pronouncedly non-uniform and non-monotonic: two domains of fast (τ < 10(-10) s) and intermediate (10(-9) s < τ < 10(-7) s) motions are separated by a gap of one order of magnitude in time with almost no motions. For slower motions (τ > 10(-6) s) we observe a sharp ~1 order of magnitude decrease of the apparent motional amplitudes. Such a distribution obviously reflects different nature of backbone motions on different time scales, where the slow end may be attributed to weakly populated "excited states." Surprisingly, our data reveal no clearly evident correlations between secondary structure of the protein and motional parameters. We also could not notice any unambiguous correlations between motions in different time scales along the protein backbone emphasizing the importance of the inter-residue interactions and the cooperative nature of protein dynamics.

Probing structure and dynamics of protein assemblies by magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy

In living organisms, biological molecules often organize into multicomponent complexes. Such assemblies consist of various proteins and carry out essential functions, ranging from cell division, transport, and energy transduction to catalysis, signaling, and viral infectivity. To understand the biological functions of these assemblies, in both healthy and disease states, researchers need to study their three-dimensional architecture and molecular dynamics. To date, the large size, the lack of inherent long-range order, and insolubility have made atomic resolution studies of many protein assemblies challenging or impractical using traditional structural biology methods such as X-ray diffraction and solution NMR spectroscopy. In the past 10 years, we have focused our work on the development and application of magic angle spinning solid-state NMR (MAS NMR) methods to characterize large protein assemblies at atomic-level resolution. In this Account, we discuss the rapid progress in the field of MAS NMR spectroscopy, citing work from our laboratory and others on methodological developments that have facilitated the in-depth analysis of biologically important protein assemblies. We emphasize techniques that yield enhanced sensitivity and resolution, such as fast MAS (spinning frequencies of 40 kHz and above) and nonuniform sampling protocols for data acquisition and processing. We also discuss the experiments for gaining distance restraints and for recoupling anisotropic tensorial interactions under fast MAS conditions. We give an overview of sample preparation approaches when working with protein assemblies. Following the overview of contemporary MAS NMR methods, we present case studies into the structure and dynamics of two classes of biological systems under investigation in our laboratory. We will first turn our attention to cytoskeletal microtubule motor proteins including mammalian dynactin and dynein light chain 8. We will then discuss protein assemblies from the HIV-1 retrovirus.

Sensitivity and resolution enhanced solid-state NMR for paramagnetic systems and biomolecules under very fast magic angle spinning

Recent research in fast magic angle spinning (MAS) methods has drastically improved the resolution and sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy of biomolecules and materials in solids. In this Account, we summarize recent and ongoing developments in this area by presenting (13)C and (1)H solid-state NMR (SSNMR) studies on paramagnetic systems and biomolecules under fast MAS from our laboratories. First, we describe how very fast MAS (VFMAS) at the spinning speed of at least 20 kHz allows us to overcome major difficulties in (1)H and (13)C high-resolution SSNMR of paramagnetic systems. As a result, we can enhance both sensitivity and resolution by up to a few orders of magnitude. Using fast recycling (∼ms/scan) with short (1)H T1 values, we can perform (1)H SSNMR microanalysis of paramagnetic systems on the microgram scale with greatly improved sensitivity over that observed for diamagnetic systems. Second, we discuss how VFMAS at a spinning speed greater than ∼40 kHz can enhance the sensitivity and resolution of (13)C biomolecular SSNMR measurements. Low-power (1)H decoupling schemes under VFMAS offer excellent spectral resolution for (13)C SSNMR by nominal (1)H RF irradiation at ∼10 kHz. By combining the VFMAS approach with enhanced (1)H T1 relaxation by paramagnetic doping, we can achieve extremely fast recycling in modern biomolecular SSNMR experiments. Experiments with (13)C-labeled ubiquitin doped with 10 mM Cu-EDTA demonstrate how effectively this new approach, called paramagnetic assisted condensed data collection (PACC), enhances the sensitivity. Lastly, we examine (13)C SSNMR measurements for biomolecules under faster MAS at a higher field. Our preliminary (13)C SSNMR data of Aβ amyloid fibrils and GB1 microcrystals acquired at (1)H NMR frequencies of 750-800 MHz suggest that the combined use of the PACC approach and ultrahigh fields could allow for routine multidimensional SSNMR analyses of proteins at the 50-200 nmol level. Also, we briefly discuss the prospects for studying bimolecules using (13)C SSNMR under ultrafast MAS at the spinning speed of ∼100 kHz.

Symmetry-amplified J splittings for quadrupolar spin pairs: a solid-state NMR probe of homoatomic covalent bonds

Chemically informative J couplings between pairs of quadrupolar nuclei in dimetallic and dimetalloid coordination motifs are measured using J-resolved solid-state NMR experiments. It is shown that the application of a double-quantum filter is necessary to observe the J splittings and that, under these conditions, only a simple doublet is expected. Interestingly, the splitting is amplified if the spins are magnetically equivalent, making it possible to measure highly precise J couplings and unambiguously probe the symmetry of the molecule. This is demonstrated experimentally by chemically breaking the symmetry about a pair of boron spins by reaction with an N-heterocyclic carbene to form a β-borylation reagent. The results show that the J coupling is a sensitive probe of bonding in diboron compounds and that the J values quantify the weakening of the B-B bond which occurs when forming an sp(2)-sp(3) diboron compound, which is relevant to their reactivity. Due to the prevalence of quadrupolar nuclei among transition metals, this work also provides a new approach to probe metal-metal bonding; results for Mn2(CO)10 are provided as an example.

Out-and-back 13C-13C scalar transfers in protein resonance assignment by proton-detected solid-state NMR under ultra-fast MAS

We present here (1)H-detected triple-resonance H/N/C experiments that incorporate CO-CA and CA-CB out-and-back scalar-transfer blocks optimized for robust resonance assignment in biosolids under ultra-fast magic-angle spinning (MAS). The first experiment, (H)(CO)CA(CO)NH, yields (1)H-detected inter-residue correlations, in which we record the chemical shifts of the CA spins in the first indirect dimension while during the scalar-transfer delays the coherences are present only on the longer-lived CO spins. The second experiment, (H)(CA)CB(CA)NH, correlates the side-chain CB chemical shifts with the NH of the same residue. These high sensitivity experiments are demonstrated on both fully-protonated and 100%-H(N) back-protonated perdeuterated microcrystalline samples of Acinetobacter phage 205 (AP205) capsids at 60 kHz MAS.

Combination of DQ and ZQ coherences for sensitive through-bond NMR correlation experiments in biosolids under ultra-fast MAS

A double-zero quantum (DZQ)-refocused INADEQUATE experiment is introduced for J-based NMR correlations under ultra-fast (60 kHz) magic angle spinning (MAS). The experiment records two spectra in the same dataset, a double quantum-single quantum (DQ-SQ) and zero quantum-single quantum (ZQ-SQ) spectrum, whereby the corresponding signals appear at different chemical shifts in ω(1). Furthermore, the spin-state selective excitation (S(3)E) J-decoupling block is incorporated in place of the second refocusing echo of the INADEQUATE scheme, providing an additional gain in sensitivity and resolution. The two sub-spectra acquired in this way can be treated separately by a shearing transformation, producing two diagonal-free single quantum (SQ-SQ)-type spectra, which are subsequently recombined to give an additional sensitivity enhancement, thus offering an improvement greater than a factor of two as compared to the original refocused INADEQUATE experiment. The combined DZQ scheme retains transverse magnetization on the initially polarized (I) spin, which typically exhibits a longer transverse dephasing time (T(2)') than its through-bond neighbour (S). By doing so, less magnetization is lost during the refocusing periods in the sequence to give even further gains in sensitivity for the J correlations. The experiment is demonstrated for the correlation between the carbonyl (CO) and alpha (CA) carbons in a microcrystalline sample of fully protonated, [(15)N,(13)C]-labelled Cu(II),Zn(II) superoxide dismutase, and its efficiency is discussed with respect to other J-based schemes.

Lewis acid-catalyzed [3 + 2]cyclo-addition of alkynes with N-tosyl-aziridines via carbon-carbon bond cleavage: synthesis of highly substituted 3-pyrrolines

A novel, efficient, and highly regioselective Lewis acid-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes with azomethine ylides, which are easily obtained from N-tosylaziridines via C-C bond heterolysis at room temperature was developed. Moderate enantioselectivity (70% ee) can be achieved by the application of the commercially available chiral Pybox 7 as the ligand.

Progress in correlation spectroscopy at ultra-fast magic-angle spinning: basic building blocks and complex experiments for the study of protein structure and dynamics

Recent progress in multi-dimensional solid-state NMR correlation spectroscopy at high static magnetic fields and ultra-fast magic-angle spinning is discussed. A focus of the review is on applications to protein resonance assignment and structure determination as well as on the characterization of protein dynamics in the solid state. First, the consequences of ultra-fast spinning on sensitivity and sample heating are considered. Recoupling and decoupling techniques at ultra-fast MAS are then presented, as well as more complex experiments assembled from these basic building blocks. Furthermore, we discuss new avenues in biomolecular solid-state NMR spectroscopy that become feasible in the ultra-fast spinning regime, such as sensitivity enhancement based on paramagnetic doping, and the prospect of direct proton detection.

Nickel(II)-catalyzed diastereoselective [3+2] cycloaddition of N-tosyl-aziridines and aldehydes via selective carbon-carbon bond cleavage

An efficient and mild Ni(ClO(4))(2)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of N-tosylaziridines and aldehydes via C-C bond cleavage was developed. The cycloaddition reaction proceeds with high diastereoselectivity and regioselectivity leading to highly substituted 1,3-oxazolidines. Notably, this novel reaction can be easily expanded to gram level scale and the thermal conditions cannot achieve the same transformation.

Lewis acid-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloadditions of N-tosyl aziridines with electron-rich alkenes via selective carbon-carbon bond cleavage

A novel, mild, robust catalyst Y(OTf)(3) for C-C bond heterolysis of N-tosyl aziridines was developed and the resulting metallo-azomethine ylides may readily undergo [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition with an electron-rich olefin via a stepwise reaction pathway with high regio- and diastereoselectivity leading to substituted pyrrolidines.