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A robust method for CH spectral editing is based on dipolar dephasing of heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence. The sequence resembles (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT), although pulse timings are modified to achieve recoupling of CH dipolar interactions.

An unprecedented two-dimensional double-quantum nuclear magnetic resonance method for determining the backbone torsion angle psi in doubly-13C-labeled amino acid residues of solid peptides, called SELFIDOQ NMR, is introduced. It eliminates the problem of undesired 13C-14N dipolar couplings comparable in strength to the chemical-shift anisotropy of the C(alpha) carbon by using the large C(alpha)-H(alpha) dipolar coupling instead. An experimental spectra of an amino acid and spectral simulations for peptide conformations demonstrate the technique's potential for determining torsion angles.

A study developed a new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pulse sequence for observing and characterizing slow segmental reorientations, with the highest available NMR sensitivity and site resolution, in sideband-free 13C, 29Si, 31P or 15N magic-angle spinning spectra. The efficiency of this technique called centerband-only detection of exchange or CODEX will facilitate systematic studies of molecular dynamics as a function of different factors, such as temperature or processing.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of C-H dipolar coupling in lecithin reveals the molecular order, dynamics and structure of the chemical compound. The NMR studies of C-H coupling is more advantageous than the H2 labeling. The peaks in the NMR spectra indicate the segmental orientation in liquid crystalline systems. The negative peaks corresponding to the glycerol and acyl residues indicate that these residues have dipolar couplings with the same sign of the coupling between C and H.

A new spectral-editing technique for solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), based principally on the different dipolar-dephasing properties of CH and CH[sub 2] multiple-quantum (MQ) coherence, yields pure C-H spectra with overall efficiencies of up to 14%. The selection is based on dephasing of methylene heteronuclear MQ coherence by the second proton and can be considered essentially as a solid-state, slow-magic-angle-spinning version of the distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT) experiment. A short dipolar transfer and inverse gated decoupling suppress quaternary-carbon resonances, and T[sub 1]-filtering reduces methyl signals. Applications to amorphous polymers with long, flexible sidegroups demonstrate excellent suppression of the signals of partially mobile methylene groups, consistent with simulations and superior to existing methods. CH selection in various model compounds and a humic acid confirms the robust nature and good sensitivity of the technique. Distinction of NCH and CCH groups, which have overlapping [sup 13]C chemical-shift ranges, is achieved by combining dipolar DEPT with ¹H isotrepicchemical-shift filtering. In the humic acid, this permits unequivocal assignment of the methine resonance near 53 ppm to NCH groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular structure of nanothreads produced by the slow compression of 13 C 4 -furan was studied by advanced solid-state NMR. Spectral editing showed that >95% of carbon atoms were bonded to one hydrogen (C-H) and that there were 2-4% CH 2 , 0.6% C═O, and <0.3% CH 3 groups. Alkenes accounted for 18% of the CH moieties, while trapped, unreacted furan made up 7%. Two-dimensional (2D) 13 C- 13 C and 1 H- 13 C NMR identified 12% of all carbon in asymmetric O-CH═CH-CH-CH- and 24% in symmetric O-CH-CH═CH-CH- rings. While the former represented defects or chain ends, some of the latter appeared to form repeating thread segments. Around 10% of carbon atoms were found in highly ordered, fully saturated nanothread segments. Unusually slow 13 C spin-exchange with sites outside the perfect thread segments documented a length of at least 14 bonds; the small width of the perfect-thread signals also implied a fairly long, regular structure. Carbons in the perfect threads underwent relatively slow spin-lattice relaxation, indicating slow spin exchange with other threads and smaller amplitude motions. Through partial inversion recovery, the signals of the perfect threads were observed and analyzed selectively. Previously considered syn -threads with four different C-H bond orientations were ruled out by centerband-only detection of exchange NMR, which was, on the contrary, consistent with anti -threads. The observed 13 C chemical shifts were matched well by quantum-chemical calculations for anti -threads but not for more complex structures like syn / anti -threads. These observations represent the first direct determination of the atomic-level structure of fully saturated nanothreads.

The molecular connectivity of polymer-metal-organic framework (polyMOF) hybrid materials was investigated using density functional theory calculations and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The architectural constraints that dictate the formation of polyMOFs were assessed by examining poly(1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid) (pbdc) polymers in two archetypical MOF lattices (UiO-66 and IRMOF-1). Modeling of the polyMOFs showed that in the IRMOF-1-type lattice, six, seven, and eight methylene (-CH 2 -) groups between 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (terephthalate, bdc 2- ) units can be accommodated without significant distortions, while in the UiO-66-type lattice, an optimal spacing of seven methylene groups between bdc 2- units is needed to minimize strain. Solid-state NMR supports these predictions and reveals pronounced spectral differences for the same polymer in the two polyMOF lattices. With seven methylene groups, polyUiO-66-7a shows 7 ± 3% of uncoordinated terephthalate linkers, while these are undetectable (<4%) in the corresponding polyIRMOF-1-7a. In addition, NMR-detected backbone mobility is significantly higher in the polyIRMOF-1-7a than in the corresponding polyUiO-66-7a, again indicative of taut chains in the latter.

Solid-state NMR has been used to study mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) prepared with a metal-organic framework (MOF, UiO-66) and two different high molecular weight polymers (PEO and PVDF). 13 C and 1 H NMR data provide overwhelming evidence that most UiO-66 organic linkers are within 1 nm of PEO, which indicates that PEO is homogeneously distributed throughout the MOF. Systematic changes in MOF 13 C NMR peak positions and 1 H NMR line widths, as well as dramatic reductions in the MOF 1 H T 1ρ relaxation times, are observed as the PEO content increases, and when the pores have been filled, a further increase in PEO results in the formation of semicrystalline PEO outside the UiO-66 particles. In contrast, similar studies on PVDF MMMs show that the polymer contacts only a small fraction (<20%) of the MOF linkers. Simulations confirm that PEO penetrates into UiO-66 more easily than does PVDF. These studies are among the first to provide experimental insights into MOF-polymer interactions in an MMM.

Carbon nanothreads are a new type of one-dimensional sp 3 -carbon nanomaterial formed by slow compression and decompression of benzene. We report characterization of the chemical structure of 13 C-enriched nanothreads by advanced quantitative, selective, and two-dimensional solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments complemented by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The width of the NMR spectral peaks suggests that the nanothread reaction products are much more organized than amorphous carbon. In addition, there is no evidence from NMR of a second phase such as amorphous mixed sp 2 /sp 3 -carbon. Spectral editing reveals that almost all carbon atoms are bonded to one hydrogen atom, unlike in amorphous carbon but as is expected for enumerated nanothread structures. Characterization of the local bonding structure confirms the presence of pure fully saturated "degree-6" carbon nanothreads previously deduced on the basis of crystal packing considerations from diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. These fully saturated threads comprise between 20% and 45% of the sample. Furthermore, 13 C- 13 C spin exchange experiments indicate that the length of the fully saturated regions of the threads exceeds 2.5 nm. Two-dimensional 13 C- 13 C NMR spectra showing bonding between chemically nonequivalent sites rule out enumerated single-site thread structures such as polytwistane or tube (3,0) but are consistent with multisite degree-6 nanothreads. Approximately a third of the carbon is in "degree-4" nanothreads with isolated double bonds. The presence of doubly unsaturated degree-2 benzene polymers can be ruled out on the basis of 13 C- 13 C NMR with spin exchange rate constants tuned by rotational resonance and 1 H decoupling. A small fraction of the sample consists of aromatic rings within the threads that link sections with mostly saturated bonding. NMR provides the detailed bonding information necessary to refine solid-state organic synthesis techniques to produce pure degree-6 or degree-4 carbon nanothreads.

Carbon nanothreads are a new one-dimensional sp 3 carbon nanomaterial. They assemble into hexagonal crystals in a room temperature, nontopochemical solid-state reaction induced by slow compression of benzene to 23 GPa. Here we show that pyridine also reacts under compression to form a well-ordered sp 3 product: C 5 NH 5 carbon nitride nanothreads. Solid pyridine has a different crystal structure from solid benzene, so the nontopochemical formation of low-dimensional crystalline solids by slow compression of small aromatics may be a general phenomenon that enables chemical design of properties. The nitrogen in the carbon nitride nanothreads may improve processability, alters photoluminescence, and is predicted to reduce the bandgap.

We report that phosphotyrosine-cholesterol conjugates effectively and selectively kill cancer cells, including platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells. The conjugate increases the degree of noncovalent oligomerization upon enzymatic dephosphorylation in aqueous buffer. This enzymatic conversion also results in the assembly of the cholesterol conjugates inside and outside cells and leads to cell death. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the formed assemblies of the conjugates not only interact with actin filaments and microtubules but also affect lipid rafts. As the first report of multifaceted supramolecular assemblies of cholesterol conjugates against cancer cells, this work illustrates the integration of enzyme catalysis and self-assembly of essential biological small molecules on and inside cancer cells as a promising strategy for developing multifunctional therapeutics to treat drug-resistant cancers.

The manufacture of advanced polyolefins has been critically enabled by the development of single-site heterogeneous catalysts. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show great potential as heterogeneous catalysts that may be designed and tuned on the molecular level. In this work, exchange of zinc ions in Zn5Cl4(BTDD)3, H2BTDD = bis(1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b],[4',5'-i])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin) (MFU-4l) with reactive metals serves to establish a general platform for selective olefin polymerization in a high surface area solid promising for industrial catalysis. Characterization of polyethylene produced by these materials demonstrates both molecular and morphological control. Notably, reactivity approaches single-site catalysis, as evidenced by low polydispersity indices, and good molecular weight control. We further show that these new catalysts copolymerize ethylene and propylene. Uniform growth of the polymer around the catalyst particles provides a mechanism for controlling the polymer morphology, a relevant metric for continuous flow processes.

A porous metal-organic framework Zr6O4(OH)4(L-PdX)3 (1-X) has been constructed from Pd diphosphinite pincer complexes ([L-PdX](4-) = [(2,6-(OPAr2)2C6H3)PdX](4-), Ar = p-C6H4CO2(-), X = Cl, I). Reaction of 1-X with PhI(O2CCF3)2 facilitates I(-)/CF3CO2(-) ligand exchange to generate 1-TFA and I2 as a soluble byproduct. 1-TFA is an active and recyclable catalyst for transfer hydrogenation of benzaldehydes using formic acid as a hydrogen source. In contrast, the homogeneous analogue (t)Bu(L-PdTFA) is an ineffective catalyst owing to decomposition under the catalytic conditions, highlighting the beneficial effects of immobilization.

The acid-activated proton channel formed by the influenza M2 protein is important for the life cycle of the virus. A single histidine, His37, in the M2 transmembrane domain (M2TM) is responsible for pH activation and proton selectivity of the channel. Recent studies suggested three models for how His37 mediates proton transport: a shuttle mechanism involving His37 protonation and deprotonation, a H-bonded imidazole-imidazolium dimer model, and a transporter model involving large protein conformational changes in synchrony with proton conduction. Using magic-angle-spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR spectroscopy, we examined the proton exchange and backbone conformational dynamics of M2TM in a virus-envelope-mimetic membrane. At physiological temperature and pH, (15)N NMR spectra show fast exchange of the imidazole (15)N between protonated and unprotonated states. To quantify the proton exchange rates, we measured the (15)N T(2) relaxation times and simulated them for chemical-shift exchange and fluctuating N-H dipolar fields under (1)H decoupling and MAS. The exchange rate is 4.5 × 10(5) s(-1) for Nδ1 and 1.0 × 10(5) s(-1) for Nε2, which are approximately synchronized with the recently reported imidazole reorientation. Binding of the antiviral drug amantadine suppressed both proton exchange and ring motion, thus interfering with the proton transfer mechanism. By measuring the relative concentrations of neutral and cationic His as a function of pH, we determined the four pK(a) values of the His37 tetrad in the viral membrane. Fitting the proton current curve using the charge-state populations from these pK(a)'s, we obtained the relative conductance of the five charge states, which showed that the +3 channel has the highest time-averaged unitary conductance. At physiologically relevant pH, 2D correlation spectra indicated that the neutral and cationic histidines do not have close contacts, ruling out the H-bonded dimer model. Moreover, a narrowly distributed nonideal helical structure coexists with a broadly distributed ideal helical conformation without interchange on the sub-10 ms time scale, thus excluding the transporter model in the viral membrane. These data support the shuttle mechanism of proton conduction, whose essential steps involve His-water proton exchange facilitated by imidazole ring reorientations., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

High-resolution magic-angle spinning NMR of high-Z spin-1/2 nuclei such as (125)Te, (207)Pb, (119)Sn, (113)Cd, and (195)Pt is often hampered by large (>1000 ppm) chemical-shift anisotropies, which result in strong spinning sidebands that can obscure the centerbands of interest. In various tellurides with applications as thermoelectrics and as phase-change materials for data storage, even 22-kHz magic-angle spinning cannot resolve the center- and sidebands broadened by chemical-shift dispersion, which precludes peak identification or quantification. For sideband suppression over the necessary wide spectral range (up to 200 kHz), radio frequency pulse sequences with few, short pulses are required. We have identified Gan's two-dimensional magic-angle-turning (MAT) experiment with five 90 degrees pulses as a promising broadband technique for obtaining spectra without sidebands. We have adapted it to broad spectra and fast magic-angle spinning by accounting for long pulses (comparable to the dwell time in t(1)) and short rotation periods. Spectral distortions are small and residual sidebands negligible even for spectra with signals covering a range of 1.5 gammaB(1), due to a favorable disposition of the narrow ranges containing the signals of interest in the spectral plane. The method is demonstrated on various technologically interesting tellurides with spectra spanning up to 170 kHz, at 22 kHz MAS.

The structure of synthetic nanodiamond has been characterized by (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral editing combined with measurements of long-range (1)H-(13)C dipolar couplings and (13)C relaxation times. The surface layer of these approximately 4.8-nm diameter carbon particles consists mostly of sp(3)-hybridized C that is protonated or bonded to OH groups, while sp(2)-hybridized carbon makes up less than 1% of the material. The surface protons surprisingly resonate at 3.8 ppm, but their direct bonding to carbon is proved by fast dipolar dephasing under homonuclear decoupling. Long-range (1)H-(13)C distance measurements, based on (13)C{(1)H} dipolar dephasing by surface protons, show that seven carbon layers, in a shell of 0.63 nm thickness that contains approximately 60% of all carbons, predominantly resonate more than +8 ppm from the 37-ppm peak of bulk diamond (i.e., within the 45-80 ppm range). Nitrogen detected in (15)N NMR spectra is mostly not protonated and can account for some of the high-frequency shift of carbon. The location of unpaired electrons (approximately 40 unpaired electrons per particle) was studied in detail, based on their strongly distance-dependent effects on T(1,C) relaxation. The slower relaxation of the surface carbons, selected by spectral editing, showed that the unpaired electrons are not dangling bonds at the surface. This was confirmed by detailed simulations, which indicated that the unpaired electrons are mostly located in the disordered shell, at distances between 0.4 and 1 nm from the surface. On the basis of these results, a nonaromatic core-shell structural model of nanodiamond particles has been proposed.

A new magic-angle spinning NMR method for measuring internuclear distances between a 13C-labeled site and amide protons is described. The magnetization of the protons evolves under homonuclear decoupling and the recoupled 13C-1H dipolar interaction, which provides simple spin-pair REDOR curves if only one 13C-labeled site is present. The modulation of the amide proton HN is detected via short 1H-15N cross polarization followed by 15N detection. The method is demonstrated on two specifically 13C- and 15N-labeled peptides, with 13C-HN distances from 2.2 to ca. 6 A. This technique promises to be particularly useful for measuring distances between 13C=O and H-15N groups, to identify hydrogen bonds in peptides and proteins.