The correlation of methyl tunnelling and thermally activated reorientation

Proton Spin-Lattice Relaxation in Organic Molecular Solids: Polymorphism and the Dependence on Sample Preparation

We report solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance ¹ H spin-lattice relaxation, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry in solid samples of 2-ethylanthracene (EA) and 2-ethylanthraquinone (EAQ) that have been physically purified in different ways from the same commercial starting compounds. The solid-state ¹ H spin-lattice relaxation is always non-exponential at high temperatures as expected when CH₃ rotation is responsible for the relaxation. The ¹ H spin-lattice relaxation experiments are very sensitive to the "several-molecule" (clusters) structure of these van der Waals molecular solids. In the three differently prepared samples of EAQ, the relaxation also becomes very non-exponential at low temperatures. This is very unusual and the decay of the nuclear magnetization can be fitted with both a stretched exponential and a double exponential. This unusual result correlates with the powder X-ray diffractometry results and suggests that the anomalous relaxation is due to crystallites of two (or more) different polymorphs (concomitant polymorphism).

Observation of nuclear quantum effects and hydrogen bond symmetrisation in high pressure ice

Hydrogen bond symmetrisations in H-bonded systems triggered by pressure-induced nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) is a long-known concept but experimental evidence in high-pressure ices has remained elusive with conventional methods. Theoretical works predicted quantum-mechanical tunneling of protons within water ices to occur at pressures above 30 GPa, and the H-bond symmetrisation transition to occur above 60 GPa. Here we used 1H-NMR on high-pressure ice up to 97 GPa, and demonstrate that NQEs govern the behavior of the hydrogen bonded protons in ice VII already at significantly lower pressures than previously expected. A pronounced tunneling mode was found to be present up to the highest pressures of 97 GPa, well into the stability field of ice X, where NQEs are not anticipated in a fully symmetrised H-bond network. We found two distinct transitions in the NMR shift data at about 20 GPa and 75 GPa attributed to the step-wise symmetrisation of the H-bond.

Monitoring a simple hydrolysis process in an organic solid by observing methyl group rotation

We report a variety of experiments and calculations and their interpretations regarding methyl group (CH₃) rotation in samples of pure 3-methylglutaric anhydride (1), pure 3-methylglutaric acid (2), and samples where the anhydride is slowly absorbing water from the air and converting to the acid [C₆H₈O₃(1) + H₂O → C₆H₁₀O₄(2)]. The techniques are solid state ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic structure calculations in both isolated molecules and in clusters of molecules that mimic the crystal structure, field emission scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and high resolution ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The solid state ¹H spin-lattice relaxation experiments allow us to observe the temperature dependence of the parameters that characterize methyl group rotation in both compounds and in mixtures of the two compounds. In the mixtures, both types of methyl groups (that is, molecules of 1 and 2) can be observed independently and simultaneously at low temperatures because the solid state ¹H spin-lattice relaxation is appropriately described by a double exponential. We have followed the conversion 1 → 2 over periods of two years. The solid state ¹H spin-lattice relaxation experiments in pure samples of 1 and 2 indicate that there is a distribution of NMR activation energies for methyl group rotation in 1 but not in 2 and we are able to explain this in terms of the particle sizes seen in the field emission scanning electron microscopy images.

Solid-Solid Phase Transitions and tert-Butyl and Methyl Group Rotation in an Organic Solid: X-ray Diffractometry, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, and Solid-State 1H Nuclear Spin Relaxation

Using solid-state ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation experiments, we have investigated the effects of several solid-solid phase transitions on tert-butyl and methyl group rotation in solid 1,3,5-tri-tert-butylbenzene. The goal is to relate the dynamics of the tert-butyl groups and their constituent methyl groups to properties of the solid determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). On cooling, the DSC experiments see a first-order, solid-solid phase transition at either 268 or 155 K (but not both) depending on thermal history. The 155 K transition (on cooling) is identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to be one from a monoclinic phase (above 155 K), where the tert-butyl groups are disordered (that is, with a rotational 6-fold intermolecular potential dominating), to a triclinic phase (below 155 K), where the tert-butyl groups are ordered (that is, with a rotational 3-fold intermolecular potential dominating). This transition shows very different DSC scans when both a 4.7 mg polycrystalline sample and a 19 mg powder sample are used. The ¹H spin-lattice relaxation experiments with a much larger 0.7 g sample are very complicated and, depending on thermal history, can show hysteresis effects over many hours and over very large temperature ranges. In the high-temperature monoclinic phase, the tert-butyl groups rotate with NMR activation energies (closely related to rotational barriers) in the 17-23 kJ mol^-1 range, and the constituent methyl groups rotate with NMR activation energies in the 7-12 kJ mol^-1 range. In the low-temperature triclinic phase, the rotations of the tert-butyl groups and their methyl groups in the aromatic plane are quenched (on the NMR time scale). The two out-of-plane methyl groups in the tert-butyl groups are rotating with activation energies in the 5-11 kJ mol^-1 range.

Methyl and t-butyl group rotation in a molecular solid: 1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation and X-ray diffraction

We report solid state ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice relaxation experiments and X-ray diffractometry in 2-t-butyldimethylsilyloxy-6-bromonaphthalene.

Nonexponential (1)H spin-lattice relaxation and methyl group rotation in molecular solids

We report a quantitative measure of the nonexponential (1)H spin-lattice relaxation resulting from methyl group (CH3) rotation in six polycrystalline van der Waals solids. We briefly review the subject in general to put the report in context. We then summarize several significant issues to consider when reporting (1)H or (19)F spin-lattice relaxation measurements when the relaxation is resulting from the rotation of a CH3 or CF3 group in a molecular solid.

Solid state ¹H spin-lattice relaxation and isolated-molecule and cluster electronic structure calculations in organic molecular solids: the relationship between structure and methyl group and t-butyl group rotation

We report ab initio density functional theory electronic structure calculations of rotational barriers for t-butyl groups and their constituent methyl groups both in the isolated molecules and in central molecules in clusters built from the X-ray structure in four t-butyl aromatic compounds. The X-ray structures have been reported previously. We also report and interpret the temperature dependence of the solid state (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spin-lattice relaxation rate at 8.50, 22.5, and 53.0 MHz in one of the four compounds. Such experiments for the other three have been reported previously. We compare the computed barriers for methyl group and t-butyl group rotation in a central target molecule in the cluster with the activation energies determined from fitting the (1)H NMR spin-lattice relaxation data. We formulate a dynamical model for the superposition of t-butyl group rotation and the rotation of the t-butyl group's constituent methyl groups. The four compounds are 2,7-di-t-butylpyrene, 1,4-di-t-butylbenzene, 2,6-di-t-butylnaphthalene, and 3-t-butylchrysene. We comment on the unusual ground state orientation of the t-butyl groups in the crystal of the pyrene and we comment on the unusually high rotational barrier of these t-butyl groups.

Methyl rotors in flavoproteins

ENDOR evidence shows that methyl groups in flavin behave as quantum locked rotors.

Molecular theory of dielectric relaxation in nematic dimers

This paper reports a theory for the dielectric relaxation of dimeric mesogenic molecules in a nematic liquid crystal phase. Liquid crystal dimers consist of two mesogenic groups linked by a flexible chain. Recent experimental studies [D. A. Dunmur, G. R. Luckhurst, M. R. de la Fuente, S. Diez, and M. A. Perez Jubindo, J. Chem. Phys. 115, 8681 (2001)] of the dielectric properties of polar liquid crystal dimers have found unexpected results for both the static (low frequency) and variable frequency dielectric response of these materials. The theory developed in this paper provides a quantitative model with which to understand the observed experimental results. The mean-square dipole moments of alpha,omega-bis[(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl]alkanes in a nematic phase have been calculated using both the rotational isomeric state model and a full torsional potential for the carbon-carbon bonds of the flexible chain. The orienting effect of the nematic phase is taken into account by a parametrized potential of mean torque acting on the mesogenic groups and the segments in the flexible chain. Results of calculations using the full torsional potential are in excellent agreement with experimental results for comparable systems. The probability density p(eq)(beta(A),beta(B)) for the orientation of the mesogenic groups (A,B) along the nematic director is also calculated. The resultant potential of mean torque is a surface characterized by four deep energy wells or sites equivalent to alignment of the terminal groups A and B approximately parallel and antiparallel to the director; of course, the reversal of the director leads to equivalent sites. This potential energy surface provides the basis for a kinetic model of dielectric relaxation in nematic dimers. Solution of the Fokker-Planck equation corresponding to this four-site model gives the time dependence of the site populations, and hence the time-correlation functions for the total dipole moment along the director. In this model the end-over-end rotation of the molecule, corresponding to simultaneous reversal of both mesogenic groups, is excluded because the activation energy is too large. Results are presented for a number of cases, in which a dipole is located on one or both of the mesogenic groups, and additionally where the groups differ in size. For the latter, under particular conditions, the correlation function exhibits a biexponential decay, which corresponds to two low frequency absorptions in the dielectric spectrum. This is exactly what has been observed for nonsymmetric nematic dimers having different groups terminating a flexible chain. Experimental results over a range of temperature for the nonsymmetric dimer alpha-[(4-cyanobiphenyl)-4'-yloxy]-omega-(4-decylanilinebenzylidene-4'-oxy)nonane can be fitted precisely to the theory, which provides new insight into the orientational and conformational dynamics of molecules in ordered liquid crystalline phases.

Unification of the quantum and classical theories of methyl NMR

The existing low and high temperature theories of methyl NMR are not linked because two conditions imposed on state functions in the low temperature theory are not compatible with the classical rotations on which the high temperature theory is based. The conditions do not occur in a geometrical theory of quantum phenomena in which particles and waves have separate roles. When applied to methyl dynamics, this theory covers the whole temperature range.

Methyl tunnelling, reorientation and NMR relaxation in solid acetates

Rotational excitations of methyl groups in six solid acetates have been investigated by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation time measurements at 15 MHz and 30 MHz and at temperatures between 10 K and the melting point. Hindering barriers between 1.6 kJ/mol and 3.7 kJ/mol have been found that could be correlated to the tunnelling frequencies observed by inelastic neutron scattering. A consistent description of the relaxation rate dependences from the classical regime at high temperatures to the quantum-mechanical regime at low temperatures is possible by Haupt's equation. The rotational potentials are mainly determined by inter-molecular interaction with an important influence of water of crystallization, if present.

NMR and relative quantum theory

Assumptions on which NMR dynamical studies have been based for nearly 50 years are consistent with a relative quantum theory based on Minkowski spacetime. A symmetry condition required by the existence of reference frames takes over the usual role of particle permutation symmetry, leaving a quantum theory of relative motion which only involves observables.

Anomalous proton relaxation, rotational tunnelling and barriers to methyl group rotation in solid acetyl halides

Rotational excitations of methyl groups attached to carbonyl in solid acetic acid, acetyl fluoride, acetyl chloride and acetyl bromide have been investigated by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times and field-cycling measurements at two frequencies and various temperatures. The tunnel splittings have been found to occur between 3.3 and 0.08 mu eV making quantum effects important for the relaxation behaviour. For the acetyl halides, similar tunnelling and NMR frequencies lead to an anomalous-looking temperature dependence of the relaxation rates. A consistent description by Haupt's equation is possible. The rotational potentials have been derived from the data and compared with those obtained from microwave spectra of the corresponding isolated molecules. The hindering potential is purely three-fold and the barrier is dominated by the functional group.