Nuclear Quadrupole Double Resonance Research Articles

Topology of the interactions pattern in pharmaceutically relevant polymorphs of methylxanthines (caffeine, theobromine, and theophiline): combined experimental (¹H-¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole double resonance) and computational (DFT and Hirshfeld-based) study.

Three anhydrous methylxanthines: caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine; 1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-(3H,7H)-dione) and its two metabolites theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine; 1,3-dimethyl-7H-purine-2,6-dione) and theobromine (3,7-dimethyl-xanthine; 3,7-dimethyl-7H-purine-2,6-dione), which reveal multifaceted therapeutic potential, have been studied experimentally in solid state by (1)H-(14)N NMR-NQR (nuclear magnetic resonance-nuclear quadrupole resonance) double resonance (NQDR). For each compound the complete NQR spectrum consisting of 12 lines was recorded. The multiplicity of NQR lines indicates the presence of a stable β form of anhydrous caffeine at 233 K and stable form II of anhydrous theobromine at 213 K. The assignment of signals detected in NQR experiment to particular nitrogen atoms was made on the basis of quantum chemistry calculations performed for monomer, cluster, and solid at the DFT/GGA/BLYP/DPD level. The shifts due to crystal packing interactions were evaluated, and the multiplets detected by NQR were assigned to N(9) in theobromine and N(1) and N(9) in caffeine. The ordering theobromine > theophylline > caffeine site and theophylline < theobromine < caffeine according to increasing electric field gradient (EFG) at the N(1) and N(7) sites, respectively, reflects the changes in biological activity profile of compounds from the methylxanthines series (different pharmacological effects). This difference is elucidated on the basis of the ability to form intra- and intermolecular interactions (hydrogen bonds and π···π stacking interactions). The introduction of methyl groups to xanthine restricts the ability of nitrogen atoms to participate in strong hydrogen bonds; as a result, the dominating effect shifts from hydrogen bond (theobromine) to π···π stacking (caffeine). Substantial differences in the intermolecular interactions in stable forms of methylxanthines differing in methylation (site or number) were analyzed within the Hirshfeld surface-based approach. The analysis of local environment of the nitrogen nucleus permitted drawing some conclusions on the nature of the interactions required for effective processes of recognition and binding of a given methylxanthine to A1-A(2A) receptor (target for caffeine in the brain). Although the interactions responsible for linking neighboring methylxanthines molecules in crystals and methylxanthines with targets in the human organism can differ significantly, the knowledge of the topology of interactions provides reliable preliminary information about the nature of this binding.

Crystallization of an amorphous solid studied by nuclear quadrupole double resonance

Nuclear quadrupole double resonance (NQDR) is proposed as a method for quantitative observation of crystallization of amorphous solids. NQDR signals from amorphous and crystalline parts of a sample may be separated. The intensity I of the NQDR signal from the crystalline part of the sample is proportional to its mass. With increasing time the amorphous phase in the sample transforms to the crystal phase and the intensity I approaches its limiting value I0 corresponding to the complete transformation to the crystal phase. The ratio I/I0 is equal to the mass fraction of the crystalline part of the sample. The same experimental method can be used to determine the mass fraction of a given crystal polymorph in a mixture of crystal polymorphs. As an example we studied crystallization of amorphous nifedipine at 100°C. The results of the NQDR study are compared to the published results of other studies.

Tautomerism and Possible Polymorphism in Solid Hydroxypyridines and Pyridones Studied by 14N NQR

(14)N nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies have been measured in solid 2-pyridone, 3-hydroxypyridine, and 4-pyridone by (1)H-(14)N nuclear quadrupole double resonance. Two slightly nonequivalent nitrogen positions are observed in solid 3-hydroxypyridine, whereas only one nitrogen position has been observed in 2-pyridone and 4-pyridone within the experimental resolution. Rather low (14)N quadrupole coupling constants in pyridones are the consequence of the delocalization of the nitrogen lone pair electrons in the aromatic rings. Two different compounds have been obtained by crystallization of 4-pyridone from ethanol in a normal and in a dry atmosphere. The compound obtained in the dry atmosphere is identical to the commercial sample. The compound obtained in the normal atmosphere cannot be converted to the commercial polymorph by melting. It is thus not a polymorph of anhydrous 4-pyridone. The temperature coefficient of the (14)N quadrupole coupling constant is negative in 3-hydroxypyridine and positive in 2- and 4-pyridone. Therefore, in 3-hydroxypyridine, molecular librations dominate the temperature variation of the quadrupole coupling constant, whereas in 2- and 4-pyridone, the changes in the hydrogen bonding interactions with temperature seem to give the dominant effect.

Rabi and Larmor nuclear quadrupole double resonance of spin-1 nuclei

We demonstrate the creation of two novel double-resonance conditions between spin-1 and spin-1/2 nuclei in a crystalline solid. Using a magnetic field oscillating at the spin-1/2 Larmor frequency, the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequency is matched to the Rabi or Rabi plus Larmor frequency, as opposed to the Larmor frequency as is conventionally done. We derive expressions for the cross-polarization rate for all three conditions in terms of the relevant secular dipolar Hamiltonian, and demonstrate with these expressions how to measure the strength of the heterogenous dipolar coupling using only low magnetic fields. In addition, the combination of different resonance conditions permits the measurement of the spin-1/2 angular momentum vector using spin-1 NQR, opening up an alternate modality for the monitoring of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance. We use ammonium nitrate to explore these resonance conditions, and furthermore use the oscillating field to increase the signal-to-noise ratio per time by a factor of 3.5 for NQR detection of this substance.

Nature of Isomerism of Solid Isothiourea Salts, Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide Synthases, As Studied by 1H–14N Nuclear Quadrupole Double Resonance, X-ray, and Density Functional Theory/Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules

Isothioureas, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases, have been studied experimentally in solid state by nuclear quadrupole double resonance (NQDR) and X-ray methods and theoretically by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules/density functional theory. Resonance frequencies on (14)N have been detected and assigned to particular nitrogen sites in each molecule. The crystal packings of (S)-3,4-dichlorobenzyl-N-methylisothiouronium chloride with the disordered chlorine positions in benzene ring and (S)-butyloisothiouronium bromide have been resolved in X-ray diffraction studies. (14)N NQDR spectra have been found good indicators of isomer type and strength of intra- or intermolecular N-H···X (X = Cl, Br) interactions. From among all salts studied, only for (S)-2,3,4,5,6-pentabromobenzylisothiouronium chloride are both nitrogen sites equivalent, which has been explained by the slow exchange. This unique structural feature can be a key factor in the high biological activity of (S)-2,3,4,5,6-pentabromobenzylisothiouronium salts.

New Methods for Detection of 14N NQR Frequencies

Nitrogen atoms are present in a number of solid explosives and illicit substances. The nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectra and spin–lattice relaxation of the nitrogen atomic nucleus 14N can be used to characterize these compounds and to distinguish between possible crystal polymorphs. After the characteristic 14N NQR frequencies and spin–lattice relaxation rates in a compound are determined, NQR can be used to detect this compounds and, in case of crystal polymorphs, also to determine the method of preparation. The 14N NQR frequencies and spin–lattice relaxation rates are measured either by pulse NQR or by nuclear quadrupole double resonance (NQDR) based on magnetic field cycling. Here, we discuss several 1H–14N NQDR techniques which can be used to measure the 14N NQR frequencies and spin–lattice relaxation rates under various experimental conditions. Some characteristic applications of these techniques are presented and discussed in details.

17 O NQR and 13 C NMR study of hydrogen-bonded organic ferroelectric croconic acid

The 1H17O nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectrum and the 13C CP/MAS NMR spectrum of polycrystalline croconic acid, H2C5O5, have been studied at room temperature. Croconic acid has been recently shown to have the highest switchable spontaneous polarization of all organic ferroelectrics and stays polarized up to the decomposition point at around 450 K. Both the 13C NMR and the 17O nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectra show that there are five crystallorgaphically non-equivalent carbon and oxygen positions for a given molecule and that therefore the two OH…O bonds are non-equivalent. From the dipolar structure of the 17O quadrupole resonance spectra the OH distance is determined as being 0.099 ± 0.001 nm in both hydrogen bonds. The large 17O quadrupole coupling constant at the COH as well as at the CO…H oxygen position and the short OH distance demonstrate that the OH…O hydrogen bonds are strongly asymmetric. A correlation of the 17OH…O and OH…17O quadrupole coupling constants versus the O…O distance has been observed in several organic acids. The data for croconic acid significantly deviate from this correlation, what may be the result of the strong long range ferroelectric ordering which influences the electron distribution in the hydrogen bonds.

Nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectrometer with magnetic property measurement system direct current superconducting quantum interference device detector and automatic tuning

A new nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectrometer based on a commercial superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) setup (a Magnetic Property Measurement System (MPMS) from Quantum Design) is described. The experiment involves the indirect detection of pure quadrupole resonances (PQR) of a dilute spin system via the direct SQUID detected NMR of an abundant spin system. The experiment is conducted at low (3-20 K) temperatures and the magnetic field is cycled between a high (5.5 T) polarizing field, to an intermediate (0.1 T) detection field, to zero field where the sample is irradiated with a modulated search RF and back to the detection field. Loss of the NMR signal indicates the detection of a PQR. The RF circuit used for both the NMR and zero field irradiation is digitally controlled. Use of the External Device Control allows for the complete automation of the system. Test measurements on diphenyl ether are in good agreement with previously reported results. Pure (17)O quadrupole resonances were detected for spin systems with concentrations as low as 120 μM.

14N NQR Study of Polymorphism and Hydrogen Bonding in Molecular Complex Isonicotinamide−Oxalic Acid (2:1)

The complete (14)N nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) spectra have been measured in the two polymorphic crystalline phases of the molecular complex isonicotinamide-oxalic acid (2:1) by nuclear quadrupole double resonance. The observed NQR frequencies, quadrupole coupling constants, and asymmetry parameters (η) have been assigned to the two nitrogen positions (ring and amide) in a molecule on the basis of the intensity and multiplicity of the double resonance signals. The NQR data for the ring nitrogen in both polymorphic phases deviate from the correlation relations observed in substituted pyridines. This deviation is analyzed in a model, where it is assumed that an additional electric charge on the nitrogen atom changes the NQR parameters. The model suggests that this additional electric charge is negative so that the N···H-O hydrogen bond seem to be partially ionic, of the type N(-)···H-O.

Measurement of dipolar structure of 17O nuclear quadrupole resonance lines by three-frequency irradiation

A modification of nuclear quadrupole double resonance with coupled multiplet is proposed which can be used for the measurement of the dipolar structure of the 17O nuclear quadrupole resonance lines in case of a strong 1H17O dipolar interaction. The technique is based on magnetic field cycling between a high magnetic field and zero magnetic field and on the simultaneous application of three rf magnetic fields with the frequencies that are close to the three 17O NQR frequencies ν5/2−1/2>ν5/2−3/2⩾ν3/2−1/2 during the time spent in zero static magnetic field. When the sum of the two lower irradiation frequencies ν1+ν2 is not equal to the highest irradiation frequency ν, the three-frequency irradiation increases the proton relaxation rate in zero magnetic field and consequently decreases the proton NMR signal at the end of the magnetic field cycle. The new technique is theoretically analyzed and compared to the single-frequency and two-frequency irradiation techniques. It is shown that the sensitivity of the new technique exceeds the sensitivity of the two-frequency irradiation technique. As a test of the new technique we measured the shape of the highest-frequency 17O NQR line in paraelectric KH2PO4.

14N NQR and proton NMR study of ferroelectric phase transition and proton exchange in organic ferroelectric (H2-TPPZ)(Hca)2

The complete (14)N nuclear quadrupole resonance spectrum has been measured in ferroelectric (H(2)-TPPZ)(Hca)(2) using nuclear quadrupole double resonance. The quadrupole coupling tensors are assigned to various nitrogen positions in the crystal structure. Two types of asymmetric N-H(+)...N hydrogen bonds are observed in the ferroelectric phase. A slow dynamics influencing the (14)N NQR spectrum and relaxation has been observed in the paraelectric phase. The analysis of the (14)N NQR spectra in the paraelectric phase shows that above T(c) each hydrogen bond exchanges between the two types observed in the ferroelectric phase. The change of the type of hydrogen bond is associated with the transfer of protons within the bond.

Structural Study of Selected Polyhalogenated Benzimidazoles (Protein Kinase CK2 Inhibitors) by Nuclear Quadrupole Double Resonance, X-ray, and Density Functional Theory

Protein kinase CK2 inhibitors, polyhalogenated benzimidazoles, have been studied experimentally in solid state by NMR-NQR double resonance and X-ray and theoretically by the density functional theory (DFT). Six resonance frequencies on (14)N have been detected and assigned to particular nitrogen sites in each polyhalogenated benzimidazole molecule. The effects of prototropic annular tautomerism and polymorphism related to stable cluster formation due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions on the (14)N NQR parameters have been analyzed within the DFT and AIM (atoms in molecules) formalism. The studies suggest that all polyhalogenobenzimidazoles are isostructural and can exhibit polymorphism and that (14)N NQR is very sensitive to hydrogen bondings but less sensitive to the specific arrangement of the hydrogen bonded molecules. NQDR and DFT results suggest the presence of the prototropic annular tautomerism 50:50, which is in a good agreement with the X-ray and (1)H NMR data.

Hydrogen bonding in 1,2-diazine–chloranilic acid (2 : 1) studied by a 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling tensor and multi-temperature X-ray diffraction

Protons involved in the H-bond system in 1,2-diazine-chloranilic acid (2 : 1) are assumed to be in jumping motion in the double-minimum potential corresponding to the two extreme electronic states of O-H...N and O-...H-N+. 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants were determined by 1H-14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance. Assuming that the observed coupling constants are result of a fast exchange of the two extreme electronic states, the coupling constants for each state were estimated by use of the equilibrium populations of the two extreme states determined from multi-temperature X-ray single-crystal diffraction. It was suggested that not only the population but also the electron distribution of the extreme electronic states itself changes with temperature.

1H17O nuclear quadrupole double resonance in phenylphosphinic acid and phenylphosphonic acid. 17O quadrupole coupling in P = O and POH bonds

The (17)O nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequencies have been measured in phenylphosphinic acid and phenylphosphonic acid using nuclear quadrupole double resonance. The quadrupole coupling constants have been determined with an uncertainty of +/- 10 kHz and the asymmetry parameter eta with an uncertainty of +/- 0.01. The results are compared to the published results of the theoretical calculation and the high-field solid-state NMR measurements. The position of hydrogen in the O-H...O hydrogen bond in phenylphosphinic acid has also been determined. On the basis of the present and the previously published data we show that the principal values of the electric-field-gradient tensor in P = O and P-O-H bonds correlate. A correlation between the nuclear quadrupole parameters and the length of the P-O bond is also observed.

Sensitivity of nuclear-quadrupole double-resonance detection of half-integer spin nuclei

The sensitivity of the Slusher and Hahn’s nuclear quadrupole double resonance technique is calculated in general for an arbitrary nuclear spin S of the quadrupole nuclei and for an arbitrary asymmetry parameter η of the electric field gradient tensor. The nuclear spin S = 5/2 ( 17O, 25Mg, …) is treated in details. The influence of the cross-relaxation rate between the quadrupole nuclei and the abundant spin system on the sensitivity of double resonance is discussed. The results of the theoretical analysis are applied in the analysis of the 1H– 17O nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectra in p-toluenesulfonamide and 2-nitrobenzoic acid. The 17O nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies from a sulfonamide group are determined for the first time. The proton–oxygen cross-relaxation rates and the proton local frequency in zero external magnetic field are experimentally determined from the nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectra.

Temperature dependence of nonequivalent potential wells for pyridinium ion reorientation in pyridinium tetrachloroiodate(III), PyHICl4, studied by 1H14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance

The reorientation of a pyridinium ion in the paraelectric and antiferroelectric phase of PyHICl(4) is investigated using (1)H-(14)N nuclear quadrupole double resonance (NQDR). The (14)N nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies are measured. The temperature variations of the principal values of the time-averaged electric-field-gradient (EFG) tensor at the nitrogen position are used to determine the occupation probabilities of the six orientations of a pyridinium ion in both crystallographic phases. The energy difference between various orientations is determined. The molar transition entropy associated with the reorientation of the pyridinium ions is calculated and compared to the experimental value.

Measurement of the 14N nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies by the solid effect

1H– 14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance using magnetic field cycling between high and low magnetic field and solid effect in the low magnetic field is analyzed in details. The transition probabilities per unit time for the solid-effect transitions are calculated. The double resonance spectra are calculated in the limiting cases of fast and slow nitrogen spin–lattice relaxation. The double resonance spectra are measured in histamine and quinolinic acid. The experimental spectra are analyzed and the 14N NQR frequencies are determined.

14N NQR Study of Diphenylamine

The temperature dependence of the 14N NQR frequencies has been measured in a polycrystalline sample of diphenylamine by nuclear quadrupole double resonance. Two non-equivalent diphenylamine molecules have been observed. The NQR parameters in diphenylamine were related to the NQR parameters obtained in other amines and to the molecular and crystal structure.

Phase transition and temperature dependent electronic state of an organic ferroelectric,phenazine–chloranilic acid (1:1)

The isotope effect of hydrogen motion in an organic ferroelectric, phenazine (Phz)–chloranilic acid(H2ca and D2ca for normal and deuterated compounds, respectively) co-crystal, was studied by35Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR). Besides a ferroelectric transition atTc = 253 K (303 K), a neutral-to-ionic transition was found below 170 K (200 K) forPhz–H2ca (Phz–D2ca). 1H–14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance measurements were also madein order to study the temperature dependent electronic state ofPhz–(H/D)2ca. 14N NQR parameters suggested that donor orbital populations of the two nitrogen atoms in aphenazine molecule become nonequivalent (1.78 and 1.97) in the ferroelectric phase,while they are both equal to 1.89 in the paraelectric phase. In the ionic phase ofPhz–D2ca, which was obtained by cooling below 188 K, they became 1.50 and 1.95, suggesting a proton transferfrom D2ca to Phz.

14N nuclear quadrupole resonance of some sulfa drugs

The 14N nuclear quadrupole double resonance spectra of different polymorphs of sulfanilamide, sulfadiazine, sulfamerazine and sulfamethazine have been measured and the 14N quadrupole coupling tensors have been determined. The obtained 14N spectra are compared with those of other sulfa drugs like sulfathiazole. It is shown that different polymorphs can be easily discriminated. The application of this technique for non-destructive analysis, polymorph determination and quality control in the production of pharmaceuticals is stressed.