Methyl tunnelling spectroscopy and level crossing phenomena in solid acetone

Methyl tunnelling sidebands in the low-field NMR spectrum of 3-pentanone: Driving A-E transitions using rf irradiation

Using magnetic field-cycling at cryogenic temperatures, low-field dipole-dipole driven NMR spectra have been recorded on 3-pentanone (CH3CH2C(O)CH2CH3). The spectra are characterised by tunnelling sidebands arising from the quantum dynamics of the methyl (CH3) rotors. From the sideband frequencies, the CH3 tunnelling frequency is determined to be νt=3.05±0.01MHz. The tunnelling sidebands are characterised by A-E transitions in nuclear spin-symmetry, involving simultaneous changes in tunnelling and nuclear spin states. To gain further insight, a theoretical analysis of the spin Hamiltonian matrix has been used to calculate the sideband transition probabilities. These are subsequently used in a thermodynamic model to simulate the low-field NMR spectrum which is compared with experiment. The level-crossings encountered as part of the magnetic field-cycling NMR sequence are found to play an essential role in determining the tunnelling sideband intensities.

Spin-symmetry conversion in methyl rotors induced by tunnel resonance at low temperature

Field-cycling NMR in the solid state at low temperature (4.2 K) has been employed to measure the tunneling spectra of methyl (CH3) rotors in phenylacetone and toluene. The phenomenon of tunnel resonance reveals anomalies in (1)H magnetization from which the following tunnel frequencies have been determined: phenylacetone, νt = 6.58 ± 0.08 MHz; toluene, νt(1) = 6.45 ± 0.06 GHz and νt(2) = 7.07 ± 0.06 GHz. The tunnel frequencies in the two samples differ by three orders of magnitude, meaning different experimental approaches are required. In phenylacetone the magnetization anomalies are observed when the tunnel frequency matches one or two times the (1)H Larmor frequency. In toluene, doping with free radicals enables magnetization anomalies to be observed when the tunnel frequency is equal to the electron spin Larmor frequency. Cross-polarization processes between the tunneling and Zeeman systems are proposed and form the basis of a thermodynamic model to simulate the tunnel resonance spectra. These invoke space-spin interactions to drive the changes in nuclear spin-symmetry. The tunnel resonance lineshapes are explained, showing good quantitative agreement between experiment and simulations.

Nitrogen-14 quadrupole cross-relaxation spectroscopy

Cross-relaxation spectroscopy can be used as a sensitive method of detecting 14 N quadrupole-resonance signals in hydrogen-containing solids. The 1 H spin system is polarized in a high magnetic field that is then reduced adiabatically to a much lower value satisfying the level­-crossing condition, when the 1 H Zeeman splitting matches one of the 14 N quadrupole splittings. If the 14 N spin–lattice relaxation time is much shorter than that of the 1 H nuclei, a drastic loss of 1 H polarization occurs that is measured by recording the residual 1 H magnetic resonance signal after the sample has been returned to the higher field. The experimental cycle can be run in several different ways according to the relative values of the 1 H spin–lattice relaxation times ( T 1 ) in high and low field, the 14 N spin–lattice relaxation ( T 1Q ) and cross-polarization times ( T CP ), all of which can markedly influence the spectra. The line shapes are broadened by the presence of the magnetic field and Zeeman shifts of the peak frequencies also occur, for which simple corrections may be derived. The methods used have high sensitivity, particularly if the ratio T 1 / T 1Q is large. They have the advantage over other double-resonance techniques in that long proton T 1 values are not necessary for the success of an experiment; it is also possible to select conditions in which the recovered 1 H signal is directly proportional to the relative numbers of 14 N nuclei present and the magnitude of the cross-relaxation field. Multi-proton relaxation jumps also give rise to signals at subharmonics of the fundamental, whose relative intensities reflect the extent to which the 14 N and 1 H relaxation is coupled via their dipole–dipole interactions, which are not completely quenched in the finite magnetic fields necessary in cross-relaxation spectroscopy. These conclusions are illustrated in a number of 14 N spectra of compounds in which quadrupole-resonance signals have not previously been recorded.

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.