High-field Magic-angle Spinning Research Articles

Formation of Stable Radicals by Mechanochemistry and Their Application for Magic Angle Spinning Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

High-field magic angle spinning (MAS) dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is becoming a common technique for improving the sensitivity of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) by the hyperpolarization of nuclear spins. Recently, we have shown that gamma irradiation is capable of creating long-lived free radicals that are amenable to MAS DNP in quartz and a variety of organic solids. Here, we demonstrate that ball milling is able to generate millimolar concentrations of stable radical species in diverse materials such as polystyrene, cellulose, borosilicate glass, and fused quartz. High-field electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was used to obtain further insight into the nature of the radicals formed in ball milled quartz and borosilicate glass. We further show that radicals generated in quartz by ball milling can be used for solid-effect DNP. We obtained 29Si DNP enhancements of approximately 114 and 33 at 110 K and room temperature, respectively, from a sample of ball milled quartz.

High-Field Magic Angle Spinning Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Using Radicals Created by γ-Irradiation.

High-field magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS DNP) is often used to enhance the sensitivity of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance experiments by transferring spin polarization from electron spins to nuclear spins. Here, we demonstrate that γ-irradiation induces the formation of stable radicals in inorganic solids, such as fused quartz and borosilicate glasses, as well as organic solids, such as glucose, cellulose, and a urea/polyethylene polymer. The radicals were then used to polarize 29Si or 1H spins in the core of some of these materials. Significant MAS DNP enhancements (ε) of more than 400 and 30 were obtained for fused quartz and glucose, respectively. For other samples, negligible values of ε were obtained, likely due to low concentrations of radicals or the presence of abundant quadrupolar spins. These results demonstrate that ionizing radiation is a promising alternative method for generating stable radicals that are suitable for high-field MAS DNP experiments.

Solvent signal suppression for high-resolution MAS-DNP

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has become a powerful tool to substantially increase the sensitivity of high-field magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR experiments. The addition of dissolved hyperpolarizing agents usually results in the presence of solvent signals that can overlap and obscure those of interest from the analyte. Here, two methods are proposed to suppress DNP solvent signals: a Forced Echo Dephasing experiment (FEDex) and TRAnsfer of Populations in DOuble Resonance Echo Dephasing (TRAPDORED) NMR. These methods reintroduce a heteronuclear dipolar interaction that is specific to the solvent, thereby forcing a dephasing of recoupled solvent spins and leaving acquired NMR spectra free of associated resonance overlap with the analyte. The potency of these methods is demonstrated on sample types common to MAS-DNP experiments, namely a frozen solution (of l-proline) and a powdered solid (progesterone), both containing deuterated glycerol as a DNP solvent. The proposed methods are efficient, simple to implement, compatible with other NMR experiments, and extendable past spectral editing for just DNP solvents. The sensitivity gains from MAS-DNP in conjunction with FEDex or TRAPDORED then permits rapid and uninterrupted sample analysis.

Atomic Resolution Structure of Monomorphic Aβ42 Amyloid Fibrils

Amyloid-β (Aβ) is a 39-42 residue protein produced by the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which subsequently aggregates to form cross-β amyloid fibrils that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The most prominent forms of Aβ are Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, which differ by two amino acids (I and A) at the C-terminus. However, Aβ42 is more neurotoxic and essential to the etiology of AD. Here, we present an atomic resolution structure of a monomorphic form of AβM01-42 amyloid fibrils derived from over 500 (13)C-(13)C, (13)C-(15)N distance and backbone angle structural constraints obtained from high field magic angle spinning NMR spectra. The structure (PDB ID: 5KK3 ) shows that the fibril core consists of a dimer of Aβ42 molecules, each containing four β-strands in a S-shaped amyloid fold, and arranged in a manner that generates two hydrophobic cores that are capped at the end of the chain by a salt bridge. The outer surface of the monomers presents hydrophilic side chains to the solvent. The interface between the monomers of the dimer shows clear contacts between M35 of one molecule and L17 and Q15 of the second. Intermolecular (13)C-(15)N constraints demonstrate that the amyloid fibrils are parallel in register. The RMSD of the backbone structure (Q15-A42) is 0.71 ± 0.12 Å and of all heavy atoms is 1.07 ± 0.08 Å. The structure provides a point of departure for the design of drugs that bind to the fibril surface and therefore interfere with secondary nucleation and for other therapeutic approaches to mitigate Aβ42 aggregation.

Solvent-Free High-Field Dynamic Nuclear Polarization of Mesoporous Silica Functionalized with TEMPO

We report high-field magic-angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS DNP) of mesoporous silica functionalized with nitroxide radicals. These results demonstrate that co-condensation can be employed to incorporate DNP polarizing agents into inorganic materials and that solvent-free DNP is feasible for porous materials. For the investigated material, the direct MAS DNP enhances the 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, whereas the indirect MAS DNP via protons is inapplicable owing to the inefficiency of $${}^{1}\hbox{H}\rightarrow{}^{29}\hbox{Si}$$ cross polarization transfer. Furthermore, the 29Si signals in direct experiments build up in a few seconds at 100 K. This fast polarization buildup improves the NMR sensitivity and will be useful for the investigation of direct DNP below 100 K.

Beyond the Silica Surface by Direct Silicon‐29 Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Buried truth: High-field magic angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS DNP) enhances the sensitivity of solid-state NMR spectroscopy, but only for protonated surfaces. Direct 29 Si DNP using the biradical TOTAPOL (see picture) circumvents this limitation by producing a 30-fold enhancement of subsurface 29 Si NMR signals in mesoporous silica, a material with applications in photonics, nanotechnology and catalysis.

Boron isotopes as pH proxy: A new look at boron speciation in deep-sea corals using 11B MAS NMR and EELS

Dissolved boron in modern seawater occurs in the form of two species, trigonal boric acid B(OH) 3 and tetrahedral borate ion B ( OH ) 4 − . One of the key assumption in the use of boron isotopic compositions of carbonates as pH proxy is that only borate ions, B ( OH ) 4 − , are incorporated into the carbonate. Here, we investigate the speciation of boron in deep-sea coral microstructures ( Lophelia pertusa specimen) by using high field magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance ( 11B MAS NMR) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). We observe both boron coordination species, but in different proportions depending on the coral microstructure, i.e. centres of calcification versus fibres. These results suggest that careful sampling is necessary before performing boron isotopic measurements in deep-sea corals. By combining the proportions of B(OH) 3 and B ( OH ) 4 − determined by NMR and our previous ion microprobe boron isotope measurements, we propose a new equation for the relation between seawater pH and boron isotopic composition in deep-sea corals.

Structural evolution of LaBGeO5 transparent ferroelectric nano-composites

LaBGeO5 is a model material for understanding the formation of transparent ferroelectric nanocomposites (TFNs) that are being developed for several photonic applications. It is one of the few oxides that forms glass easily, devitrifies congruently, and then becomes ferroelectric upon crystallization. Through a two-step heat treatment we have successfully prepared this TFN with stillwellite-type nano-crystallites that are homogeneously formed in the bulk of the sample. The microstructures of the samples have been investigated with optical, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy; the crystallites undergo a ferroelectric transition at the Curie temperature that is less than the glass transition temperature. The changes in structure at the molecular level have been monitored by 11B high-field Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS NMR). The 11B spectra exhibit two well-resolved lines, which can be attributed to planar BO3 and tetrahedral BO4 units, respectively. The relative fraction of the two units depends strongly on the degree of devitrification.

(1)H and (13)C MAS NMR evidence for pronounced ligand-protein interactions involving the ionone ring of the retinylidene chromophore in rhodopsin.

Rhodopsin is a member of the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. This seven alpha-helix transmembrane protein is the visual pigment of the vertebrate rod photoreceptor cells that mediate dim light vision. In the active binding site of this protein the ligand or chromophore, 11-cis-retinal, is covalently bound via a protonated Schiff base to lysine residue 296. Here we present the complete (1)H and (13)C assignments of the 11-cis-retinylidene chromophore in its ligand-binding site determined with ultra high field magic angle spinning NMR. Native bovine opsin was regenerated with 99% enriched uniformly (13)C-labeled 11-cis-retinal. From the labeled pigment, (13)C carbon chemical shifts could be obtained by using two-dimensional radio frequency-driven dipolar recoupling in a solid-state magic angle spinning homonuclear correlation experiment. The (1)H chemical shifts were assigned by two-dimensional heteronuclear ((1)H-(13)C) dipolar correlation spectroscopy with phase-modulated Lee-Goldburg homonuclear (1)H decoupling applied during the t(1) period. The data indicate nonbonding interactions between the protons of the methyl groups of the retinylidene ionone ring and the protein. These nonbonding interactions are attributed to nearby aromatic acid residues Phe-208, Phe-212, and Trp-265 that are in close contact with, respectively, H-16/H-17 and H-18. Furthermore, binding of the chromophore involves a chiral selection of the ring conformation, resulting in equatorial and axial positions for CH(3)-16 and CH(3)-17.

High resolution 27Al and 31P n.m.r. studies of the aluminium phosphate molecular sieve AlPO 45

High field magic-angle spinning 27Al and 31P n.m.r. investigations of the molecular sieve AlPO 45 and its Pr 3NAlPO 45 precursor correspond to a framework structure of alternating AlO 4 and PO 4 tetrahedra. The ‘as-synthesized’ precursor shows additional influences of the tripropyl amine template molecules on the chemical shifts. Information about the electric field gradient at the Al sites was obtained from static low field 27Al n.m.r. spectra. Using the empirical correlation between chemical shift and mean AlOP bond angle which has been found for the dense AlPO 4 phases, both the 31P and the corrected 27Al chemical shift values suggest a mean angle of 150° for AlPO 45.