Interaction Tensors and Local Dynamics in Common Structural Motifs of Nitrogen: A Solid-State 14N NMR and DFT Study

Halogen Bond Strength in Solids Quantified via Zeeman-Perturbed Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Spectroscopy

Proton NMR is a ubiquitous and valuable probe of hydrogen bonds. Conversely, 127I NMR of strong halogen bond (XB) donors is hopeless due to quadrupolar coupling constants (CQ) on the order of GHz. We report here an innovative implementation of Zeeman-perturbed nuclear quadrupole resonance (Zp-NQR) spectroscopy, employing adjustable magnetic fields on the order of mT, which renders possible the acquisition and analysis of spectra of 127I and 79Br nuclei subject to quadrupolar couplings of up to 2.3 GHz in solid powders. This approach is demonstrated on three series of halogen-bonded cocrystals based on so-called "iconic" strong XB donors p-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, sym-trifluorotriiodobenzene, and p-dibromotetrafluorobenzene (27 compounds). Analysis of the spectra using a diagonalization of the Zeeman-quadrupolar Hamiltonian provides CQ values and quadrupolar asymmetry parameters, thereby overcoming various limitations encountered in pure NMR and pure NQR. Inspection of the data reveals strong correlations with geometrical and structural features of the halogen bond, including its length. Dispersion-corrected zeroth-order regular approximation relativistic DFT computations of the interaction energies of the XB donor are strongly correlated with experimental and computed values of CQ(127I) and CQ(79Br). It is concluded that the electric field gradient at the XB donor site is a useful metric for quantifying XB strength in solids. The XB interaction energies range from ∼5 to 10 kcal mol-1 for the systems studied herein. The Zp-NQR approach is amenable to widespread application to diverse problems in the chemical and materials sciences related to energy materials, crystal engineering, and many systems comprising strongly quadrupolar isotopes.

Uniform chi-squared model probabilities in NMR crystallography

A nearly universal component of NMR crystallography is the ranking of candidate structures based on how well their first-principles-predicted NMR parameters align with the results of solid-state NMR experiments. Here, a novel approach for assigning probabilities to candidate models is proposed that quantifies the likelihood that each model is the correct experimental structure. This method employs hierarchical Bayesian inference and leverages explicit prior probabilities derived from a uniform distribution of potential candidate structures with respect to chi-squared values. The resulting uniform chi-squared (UC) model provides a more cautious estimate of candidate probabilities compared to previous approaches, assigning decreased likelihood to the best-fit structure and increased likelihood to alternate candidates. Although developed here within the context of NMR crystallography, the UC model represents a general method for assigning likelihoods based on chi-squared goodness-of-fit assessments.

Predicting 51V nuclear magnetic resonance observables in molecular crystals

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations are widely used to characterize vanadium centers in biological and pharmaceutically relevant compounds. Several techniques have been recently developed to improve the accuracy of predicted NMR parameters obtained from DFT. Fragment-based and planewave-corrected methods employing hybrid density functionals are particularly effective tools for solid-state applications. A recent benchmark study involving molecular crystal compounds found that fragment-based NMR calculations using hybrid density functionals improve the accuracy of predicted 51V chemical shieldings by 20% relative to traditional planewave methods. This work extends the previous study, including a careful analysis of 51V chemical shift anisotropy, electric field gradient calculations, and a more extensive test set. The accuracy of planewave-corrected techniques and recently developed fragment-based methods using electrostatic embedding based on the polarized continuum model (PCM) are found to be highly competitive with previous methods. Planewave-corrected methods achieve a 34% improvement in the errors of predicted 51V chemical shieldings relative to planewave. Additionally, planewave-corrected and fragment-based calculations were performed using PCM embedding, improving the accuracy of predicted 51V chemical shielding (CS) tensor principal values by 30% andC q values by 15% relative to traditional planewave methods. The performance of these methods is further examined using a redox-active oxovandium complex and a common 51V NMR reference compound.

Structure and bonding in rhodium coordination compounds: a 103Rh solid-state NMR and relativistic DFT study

This study demonstrates the application of 103Rh solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy to inorganic and organometallic coordination compounds, in combination with relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations of 103Rh chemical shift tensors and their analysis with natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) protocols, to develop correlations between 103Rh chemical shift tensors, molecular structure, and Rh-ligand bonding. 103Rh is one of the least receptive NMR nuclides, and consequently, there are very few reports in the literature. We introduce robust 103Rh SSNMR protocols for stationary samples, which use the broadband adiabatic inversion-cross polarization (BRAIN-CP) pulse sequence and wideband uniform-rate smooth-truncation (WURST) pulses for excitation, refocusing, and polarization transfer, and demonstrate the acquisition of 103Rh SSNMR spectra of unprecedented signal-to-noise and uniformity. The 103Rh chemical shift tensors determined from these spectra are complemented by NBO/NLMO analyses of contributions of individual orbitals to the 103Rh magnetic shielding tensors to understand their relationship to structure and bonding. Finally, we discuss the potential for these experimental and theoretical protocols for investigating a wide range of materials containing the platinum group elements.

Pushing the Detection Limit of Static Wideline NMR Spectroscopy Using Ultrafast Frequency-Swept Pulses

We report a simple design strategy for wideband uniform-rate smooth truncation (WURST) pulses that enables ultrafast frequency sweeps to maximize the sensitivity of Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) acquisition in static wideline nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Three compelling examples showcase the advantage of ultrafast frequency sweeps over currently employed WURST-CPMG protocols, demonstrating the potential of investigating materials that are typically inaccessible to static wideline NMR techniques, e.g., paramagnetic solids with short homogeneous transverse relaxation times.

Relativistic Density Functional NMR Tensors Analyzed with Spin-free Localized Molecular Orbitals

The implementation of fast relativistic methods based on density functional theory, in conjunction with localized molecular orbital (LMO) based analysis, allows straightforward interpretations of NMR parameters in terms of contributions from core shells, lone pairs, and bonds, for compounds containing elements from across the periodic table. We present a conceptual review of a frequently used LMO analysis of NMR parameters calculated in the presence of spin-orbit interactions and other relativistic effects. An accompanying example focuses on the ¹⁵ N shielding in a heavy metal complex.

Nutraceuticals in Bulk and Dosage Forms: Analysis by 35Cl and 14N Solid-State NMR and DFT Calculations

This study uses ³⁵Cl and ¹⁴N solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy and dispersion-corrected plane-wave density functional theory (DFT) calculations for the structural characterization of chloride salts of nutraceuticals in their bulk and dosage forms. For eight nutraceuticals, we measure the ³⁵Cl EFG tensor parameters of the chloride ions and use plane-wave DFT calculations to elucidate relationships between NMR parameters and molecular-level structure, which provide rapid NMR crystallographic assessments of structural features. We employ both ³⁵Cl direct excitation and ¹H→³⁵Cl cross-polarization methods to characterize a dosage form containing α-d-glucosamine HCl, observe possible impurity and/or adulterant phases, and quantify the weight percent of the active ingredient. To complement this, we also investigate ¹⁴N SSNMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations to characterize nitrogen atoms in the nutraceuticals. This includes a discussion of targeted acquisition experimental protocols (i.e., acquiring a select region of the overall pattern that features key discontinuities) that allow ultrawideline spectra to be acquired rapidly, even for unreceptive samples (i.e., those with long values of T₁(¹⁴N), short values of T₂^eff(¹⁴N), or very broad patterns). It is hoped that these experimental and computational protocols will be useful for the characterization of various solid forms of nutraceuticals (i.e., salts, polymorphs, hydrates, solvates, cocrystals, amorphous solid dispersions, etc.), help detect impurity and counterfeit solid phases in dosage forms, and serve as a foundation for future NMR crystallographic studies of nutraceutical solid forms, including studies using ab initio crystal structure prediction algorithms.

NMR spectroscopy probes microstructure, dynamics and doping of metal halide perovskites

Solid-state magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy is a powerful technique to probe atomic-level microstructure and structural dynamics in metal halide perovskites. It can be used to measure dopant incorporation, phase segregation, halide mixing, decomposition pathways, passivation mechanisms, short-range and long-range dynamics, and other local properties. This Review describes practical aspects of recording solid-state NMR data on halide perovskites and how these afford unique insights into new compositions, dopants and passivation agents. We discuss the applicability, feasibility and limitations of ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁴N, ¹³³Cs, ⁸⁷Rb, ³⁹K, ²⁰⁷Pb, ¹¹⁹Sn, ¹¹³Cd, ²⁰⁹Bi, ¹¹⁵In, ¹⁹F and ²H NMR in typical experimental scenarios. We highlight the pivotal complementary role of solid-state mechanosynthesis, which enables highly sensitive NMR studies by providing large quantities of high-purity materials of arbitrary complexity and of chemical shifts calculated using density functional theory. We examine the broader impact of solid-state NMR on materials research and how its evolution over seven decades has benefitted structural studies of contemporary materials such as halide perovskites. Finally, we summarize some of the open questions in perovskite optoelectronics that could be addressed using solid-state NMR. We, thereby, hope to stimulate wider use of this technique in materials and optoelectronics research.

Quadrupolar NMR Relaxation of Aqueous 127I-, 131Xe, and 133Cs+: A First-Principles Approach from Dynamics to Properties

Quadrupolar NMR relaxation rates were computed for aqueous ¹³³Cs⁺, ¹³¹Xe, and ¹²⁷I^- via Kohn-Sham (KS) density functional theory-based ab initio molecular dynamics and KS calculations of the electric field gradient (EFG) tensors along the trajectories. The resulting rates are within a factor of 1-3 of the experimental values and can be compared to available results from classical dynamics and EFGs from electrostatic models with corrections via Sternheimer antishielding factors. Relativistic effects are shown to have an enhancing effect on the magnitude of the EFGs. An analysis of the EFGs was carried out in terms of localized molecular orbitals to elucidate contributions from the solvent versus solute polarization and assess the validity of the Sternheimer approximation for these systems.

NMR and NQR study of polymorphism in carbamazepine

Four polymorphic forms of carbamazepine have been simultaneously investigated by ¹H NMR and ¹⁴N NQR. The results show that the proton spin-lattice relaxation time and the ¹⁴N NQR spectra can be used to differentiate between various polymorphic forms. Spontaneous transformations from Form II to Form III and from Form IV to Form III have been investigated through their influence on the ¹⁴N NQR spectrum and the proton NMR signal and spin-lattice relaxation. The ¹⁴N NQR spectra prove that in the observed polymorphic forms of carbamazepine the hydrogen bonded dimers of carbamazepine molecules are the basic elements of the crystal structure. The dimers are centrosymmetric in Forms III and IV and in metastable polymorphic form occurring during the transformation of Form IV to Form III. Two non-equivalent molecular positions are observed in Form II with the occupation ratio 1:1 and in Form I with the occupation ratio either 2:1 or 3:1. The ¹⁴N NQR data are related to the published crystal structures. Possible reasons for the mismatch of the X-ray and NQR data for Forms I and II are discussed.

Fast Acquisition of Proton-Detected HETCOR Solid-State NMR Spectra of Quadrupolar Nuclei and Rapid Measurement of NH Bond Lengths by Frequency Selective HMQC and RESPDOR Pulse Sequences

Fast magic-angle spinning (MAS), frequency selective (FS) heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments which function in an analogous manner to solution SOFAST HMQC NMR experiments, are demonstrated. Fast MAS enables efficient FS excitation of ¹ H solid-state NMR signals. Selective excitation and observation preserves ¹ H magnetization, leading to a significant shortening of the optimal inter-scan delay. Dipolar and scalar ¹ H{¹⁴ N} FS HMQC solid-state NMR experiments routinely provide 4- to 9-fold reductions in experiment times as compared to conventional ¹ H{¹⁴ N} HMQC solid-state NMR experiments. ¹ H{¹⁴ N} FS resonance-echo saturation-pulse double-resonance (RESPDOR) allowed dipolar dephasing curves to be obtained in minutes, enabling the rapid determination of NH dipolar coupling constants and internuclear distances. ¹ H{¹⁴ N} FS RESPDOR was used to assign multicomponent active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) as salts or cocrystals. FS HMQC also provided enhanced sensitivity for ¹ H{¹⁷ O} and ¹ H{³⁵ Cl} HMQC experiments on ¹⁷ O-labeled Fmoc-alanine and histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, respectively. FS HMQC and FS RESPDOR experiments will provide access to valuable structural constraints from materials that are challenging to study due to unfavorable relaxation times or dilution of the nuclei of interest.

Quantitative analysis of 14N quadrupolar coupling using 1H detected 14N solid-state NMR

Magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR is increasingly utilized to study the naturally abundant, spin-1 nucleus 14N, providing insights into the structure and dynamics of biological and organic molecules. In particular, the characterisation of 14N sites using indirect detection has proven useful for complex molecules, where the 'spy' nucleus provides enhanced sensitivity and resolution. Here we exploit the sensitivity of proton detection, to indirectly characterise 14N sites using a moderate rf field to generate coherence between the 1H and 14N at moderate and fast-magic-angle spinning frequencies. Efficient numerical simulations have been developed that have allowed us to quantitatively analyse the resulting 14N lineshapes to determine both the size and asymmetry of the quadrupolar interaction. Exploiting only naturally occurring abundant isotopes will aid the analysis of materials with the need to resort to isotope labelling, whilst providing additional insights into the structure and dynamics that the characterisation of the quadrupolar interaction affords.

Quadrupolar 14N NMR Relaxation from Force-Field and Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics in Different Solvents

Quadrupolar NMR spin relaxation rates and corresponding line widths were computed for the quadrupolar nucleus ¹⁴N for neat acetonitrile as well as for 1-methyl-1,3-imidazole and 1-methyl-1,3,4-triazole in different solvents. Molecular dynamics (MD) was performed with forces from the Kohn-Sham (KS) theory (ab initio MD) and force-field molecular mechanics (classical MD), followed by KS electric field gradient (EFG) calculations. For acetonitrile the agreement of the ¹⁴N line width with experiment is very good. Relative line widths for the azole nitrogens are improved over simpler approximations used previously in conjunction with single-point calculations at the multiconfigurational self-consistent field level. Overall, the NMR line widths are computed within a factor of 2 of the experimental values, giving access to reasonable estimates both of the dynamic EFG variance in the solvated systems as well as the associated correlation times that determine the relaxation rates.

Recent advances in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of exotic nuclei

We present a review of recent advances in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) studies of exotic nuclei. Exotic nuclei may be spin-1/2 or quadrupolar, and typically have low gyromagnetic ratios, low natural abundances, large quadrupole moments (when I > 1/2), or some combination of these properties, generally resulting in low receptivities and/or prohibitively broad line widths. Some nuclides are little studied for other reasons, also rendering them somewhat exotic. We first discuss some of the recent progress in pulse sequences and hardware development which continues to enable researchers to study new kinds of materials as well as previously unfeasible nuclei. This is followed by a survey of applications to a wide range of exotic nuclei (including e.g., ⁹Be, ²⁵Mg, ³³S, ³⁹K, ⁴³Ca, ^47/49Ti, ⁵³Cr, ⁵⁹Co, ⁶¹Ni, ⁶⁷Zn, ⁷³Ge, ⁷⁵As, ⁸⁷Sr, ¹¹⁵In, ¹¹⁹Sn, ^121/123Sb, ^135/137Ba, ^185/187Re, ²⁰⁹Bi), most of them quadrupolar. The scope of the review is the past ten years, i.e., 2007-2017.

14N overtone nuclear magnetic resonance of rotating solids

By irradiating and observing at twice the 14N Larmor frequency, overtone (OT) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is capable of obtaining 14NOT spectra without first-order quadrupolar broadening. Direct excitation and detection of the usually "forbidden" double-quantum transition is mediated by the perturbation from the large quadrupole interaction to the spin states quantized by the Zeeman interaction. A recent study [L. A. O'Dell and C. I. Ratcliffe, Chem. Phys. Lett. 514, 168 (2011)] has shown that 14NOT NMR under magic-angle spinning (MAS) can yield high-resolution spectra with typical second-order quadrupolar line shapes allowing the measurement of 14N chemical shift and quadrupolar coupling parameters. This article has also shown that under MAS the main 14NOT peak is shifted by twice the sample spinning frequency with respect to its static position. We present the theory of 14NOT NMR of static or rotating samples and the physical picture of the intriguing spinning-induced shift in the second case. We use perturbation theory for the case of static samples and Floquet theory for rotating samples. In both cases, the results can be described by a so-called OT parameter that scales down the 14NOT radio-frequency (rf) excitation and signal detection. This OT parameter shows that the components of the rf field, which are transverse and longitudinal with respect to the magnetic field, are both effective for 14NOTrf excitation and signal detection. In the case of MAS at angular frequency ωr , the superposition of the excitation and detection components in the OT parameter makes either the +2ωr or -2ωr term the dominant 14NOT signal, depending on the sense of sample spinning with respect to the magnetic field. This leads to an apparent 14NOT signal shifted at twice the spinning frequency. The features of 14NOT NMR spectra for both static and rotating samples are illustrated with simulations. The spinning induced shift and its dependence on the spinning direction are confirmed experimentally by reversing the spinning direction and the field of the 36 T series-connected hybrid magnet at the US National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy of active pharmaceutical ingredients

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has become a valuable tool for the characterization of both pure and formulated active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, NMR generally suffers from poor sensitivity that often restricts NMR experiments to nuclei with favorable properties, concentrated samples, and acquisition of one-dimensional (1D) NMR spectra. Here, we review how dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can be applied to routinely enhance the sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments by one to two orders of magnitude for both pure and formulated APIs. Sample preparation protocols for relayed DNP experiments and experiments on directly doped APIs are detailed. Numerical spin diffusion models illustrate the dependence of relayed DNP enhancements on the relaxation properties and particle size of the solids and can be used for particle size determination when the other factors are known. We then describe the advanced solid-state NMR experiments that have been enabled by DNP and how they provide unique insight into the molecular and macroscopic structure of APIs. For example, with large sensitivity gains provided by DNP, natural isotopic abundance, ¹³ C-¹³ C double-quantum single-quantum homonuclear correlation NMR spectra of pure APIs can be routinely acquired. DNP also enables solid-state NMR experiments with unreceptive quadrupolar nuclei such as ² H, ¹⁴ N, and ³⁵ Cl that are commonly found in APIs. Applications of DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy for the molecular level characterization of low API load formulations such as commercial tablets and amorphous solid dispersions are described. Future perspectives for DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR experiments on APIs are briefly discussed.

Double cross polarization for the indirect detection of nitrogen-14 nuclei in magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy

Nitrogen-14 NMR spectra at fast magic-angle spinning rates can be acquired indirectly by means of two-dimensional techniques based on double cross polarization transfer ¹H → ¹⁴N →¹H. Experimental evidence is given for polycrystalline samples of glycine, l-histidine, and the dipeptide Ala-Gly. Either one-bond or long-range correlations can be favored by choosing the length of the cross polarization contact pulses. Longer contact pulses allow the detection of unprotonated nitrogen sites. In contrast to earlier methods that exploited second-order quadrupolar/dipolar cross-terms, cross polarization operates in the manner of the method of Hartmann and Hahn, even for ¹⁴N quadrupolar couplings up to 4 MHz. Simulations explain why amorphous samples tend to give rise to featureless spectra because the ¹⁴N quadrupolar interactions may vary dramatically with the lattice environment. The experiments are straightforward to set up and are shown to be effective for different nitrogen environments and robust with respect to the rf-field strengths and to the ¹⁴N carrier frequency during cross polarization. The efficiency of indirect detection of ¹⁴N nuclei by double cross polarization is shown to be similar to that of isotopically enriched ¹³C nuclei.

Composite pulses in directly and indirectly detected 14N MAS overtone spectroscopy

¹⁴N MAS overtone spectroscopy is mainly limited by narrow excitation bandwidths owing to the use of very long pulses to get stronger signals. We previously reported the use of modified 90° composite pulses for broadband excitation in ¹H-{NOTDQ14}D-HMQC experiments at ultra-fast MAS. In this work, we modified the 180° composite pulses, which are originally designed for spin 1/2 nuclei, for both indirect detection in ¹H-{NOTDQ14}D-HMQC experiment and direct detection in one-pulse experiment, and found that the modified 180° composite pulses are useful for broadband excitation. Furthermore, we found that the bandwidth can be tailored by simply adjusting the total pulse length.

Practical considerations for the acquisition of ultra-wideline 14N NMR spectra

Several considerations for the acquisition, processing, and analysis of high quality ultra-wideline (UW) ¹⁴N solid-state NMR (SSNMR) powder patterns under static conditions are discussed. It is shown that the ¹⁴N quadrupolar parameters may be determined accurately using the frequencies of only two discontinuities in ¹⁴N NMR powder patterns that are dominated by the first-order quadrupolar interaction, thereby eliminating the need for the acquisition of the entire pattern and concomitantly reducing experimental time. A framework for utilizing the WURST-CPMG pulse sequence to improve the efficiency of UW ¹⁴N SSNMR experiments is explored in two parts: (i) a systematic investigation of the design and parameterization of the WURST pulse is presented, and (ii) the development of the practical aspects of CPMG refocusing for the acquisition of UW ¹⁴N SSNMR powder patterns is discussed, with a focus on maximizing both signal-to-noise and resolution, and minimizing spectral distortions. Finally, a strategy is demonstrated that allows for the measurement of the ¹⁴N quadrupolar parameters for any nitrogen moiety whose quadrupolar coupling constant falls within the range 0.8≤|C_Q|≤1.5MHz, by acquiring only two ¹⁴N NMR sub-spectra at strategically located transmitter frequencies; these results are compared to full powder patterns which are acquired using frequency-stepped methods. The methodologies and practical considerations outlined herein are not only useful for the rapid acquisition of UW ¹⁴N NMR spectra, but may also be modified and applied for UW NMR of a plethora of quadrupolar and spin-1/2 nuclides.

Measurement of 14N quadrupole couplings in biomolecular solids using indirect-detection 14N solid-state NMR with DNP

Insights into protein structure through the determination of ¹⁴N quadrupolar interactions using magic-angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization NMR.

Temperature dependence of X-ray absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra: probing quantum vibrations of light elements in oxides

Probing the quantum thermal fluctuations of nuclei in light-element oxides using XANES and NMR spectroscopies.

Benchmark fragment-based (1)H, (13)C, (15)N and (17)O chemical shift predictions in molecular crystals

The performance of fragment-based ab initio(1)H, (13)C, (15)N and (17)O chemical shift predictions is assessed against experimental NMR chemical shift data in four benchmark sets of molecular crystals. Employing a variety of commonly used density functionals (PBE0, B3LYP, TPSSh, OPBE, PBE, TPSS), we explore the relative performance of cluster, two-body fragment, and combined cluster/fragment models. The hybrid density functionals (PBE0, B3LYP and TPSSh) generally out-perform their generalized gradient approximation (GGA)-based counterparts. (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (17)O isotropic chemical shifts can be predicted with root-mean-square errors of 0.3, 1.5, 4.2, and 9.8 ppm, respectively, using a computationally inexpensive electrostatically embedded two-body PBE0 fragment model. Oxygen chemical shieldings prove particularly sensitive to local many-body effects, and using a combined cluster/fragment model instead of the simple two-body fragment model decreases the root-mean-square errors to 7.6 ppm. These fragment-based model errors compare favorably with GIPAW PBE ones of 0.4, 2.2, 5.4, and 7.2 ppm for the same (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (17)O test sets. Using these benchmark calculations, a set of recommended linear regression parameters for mapping between calculated chemical shieldings and observed chemical shifts are provided and their robustness assessed using statistical cross-validation. We demonstrate the utility of these approaches and the reported scaling parameters on applications to 9-tert-butyl anthracene, several histidine co-crystals, benzoic acid and the C-nitrosoarene SnCl2(CH3)2(NODMA)2.

Natural abundance 14N and 15N solid-state NMR of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs

¹⁴N and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR at natural abundance are used in tandem for the investigation of pharmaceuticals and their polymorphs.

Rapid acquisition of wideline MAS solid-state NMR spectra with fast MAS, proton detection, and dipolar HMQC pulse sequences

Fast MAS and proton detection are applied to rapidly acquire wideline solid-state NMR spectra of spin-1/2 and half-integer quadrupolar nuclei.

Comparison of various NMR methods for the indirect detection of nitrogen-14 nuclei via protons in solids

We present an experimental comparison of several through-space Hetero-nuclear Multiple-Quantum Correlation experiments, which allow the indirect observation of homo-nuclear single- (SQ) or double-quantum (DQ) (14)N coherences via spy (1)H nuclei. These (1)H-{(14)N} D-HMQC sequences differ not only by the order of (14)N coherences evolving during the indirect evolution, t1, but also by the radio-frequency (rf) scheme used to excite and reconvert these coherences under Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS). Here, the SQ coherences are created by the application of center-band frequency-selective pulses, i.e. long and low-power rectangular pulses at the (14)N Larmor frequency, ν0((14)N), whereas the DQ coherences are excited and reconverted using rf irradiation either at ν0((14)N) or at the (14)N overtone frequency, 2ν0((14)N). The overtone excitation is achieved either by constant frequency rectangular pulses or by frequency-swept pulses, specifically Wide-band, Uniform-Rate, and Smooth-Truncation (WURST) pulse shapes. The present article compares the performances of four different (1)H-{(14)N} D-HMQC sequences, including those with (14)N rectangular pulses at ν0((14)N) for the indirect detection of homo-nuclear (i) (14)N SQ or (ii) DQ coherences, as well as their overtone variants using (iii) rectangular or (iv) WURST pulses. The compared properties include: (i) the sensitivity, (ii) the spectral resolution in the (14)N dimension, (iii) the rf requirements (power and pulse length), as well as the robustness to (iv) rf offset and (v) MAS frequency instabilities. Such experimental comparisons are carried out for γ-glycine and l-histidine.HCl monohydrate, which contain (14)N sites subject to moderate quadrupole interactions. We demonstrate that the optimum choice of the (1)H-{(14)N} D-HMQC method depends on the experimental goal. When the sensitivity and/or the robustness to offset are the major concerns, the D-HMQC sequence allowing the indirect detection of (14)N SQ coherences should be employed. Conversely, when the highest resolution and/or adjusted indirect spectral width are needed, overtone experiments are the method of choice. The overtone scheme using WURST pulses results in broader excitation bandwidths than that using rectangular pulses, at the expense of reduced sensitivity. Numerically exact simulations also show that the sensitivity of the overtone (1)H-{(14)N} D-HMQC experiment increases for larger quadrupole interactions.

Ultra-wideline 14N solid-state NMR as a method for differentiating polymorphs: glycine as a case study

¹⁴N solid-state NMR is useful for differentiating polymorphs and chemically distinct nitrogen-containing compounds. A case study of glycine is presented.

Indirectly detected heteronuclear correlation solid-state NMR spectroscopy of naturally abundant 15N nuclei

Two-dimensional indirectly detected through-space and through-bond (1)H{(15)N} solid-state NMR experiments utilizing fast magic angle spinning (MAS) and homonuclear multipulse (1)H decoupling are evaluated. Remarkable efficiency of polarization transfer can be achieved at a MAS rate of 40 kHz by both cross-polarization and INEPT, which makes these methods applicable for routine characterizations of natural abundance solids. The first measurement of 2D (1)H{(15)N} HETCOR spectrum of natural abundance surface species is also reported.

Dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced NMR spectroscopy for pharmaceutical formulations

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy at 9.4 T is demonstrated for the detailed atomic-level characterization of commercial pharmaceutical formulations. To enable DNP experiments without major modifications of the formulations, the gently ground tablets are impregnated with solutions of biradical polarizing agents. The organic liquid used for impregnation (here 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane) is chosen so that the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is minimally perturbed. DNP enhancements (ε) of between 40 and 90 at 105 K were obtained for the microparticulate API within four different commercial formulations of the over-the-counter antihistamine drug cetirizine dihydrochloride. The different formulations contain between 4.8 and 8.7 wt % API. DNP enables the rapid acquisition with natural isotopic abundances of one- and two-dimensional (13)C and (15)N solid-state NMR spectra of the formulations while preserving the microstructure of the API particles. Here this allowed immediate identification of the amorphous form of the API in the tablet. API-excipient interactions were observed in high-sensitivity (1)H-(15)N correlation spectra, revealing direct contacts between povidone and the API. The API domain sizes within the formulations were determined by measuring the variation of ε as a function of the polarization time and numerically modeling nuclear spin diffusion. Here we measure an API particle radius of 0.3 μm with a single particle model, while modeling with a Weibull distribution of particle sizes suggests most particles possess radii of around 0.07 μm.

Probing halogen bonds with solid-state NMR spectroscopy: observation and interpretation of J(77Se,31P) coupling in halogen-bonded PSe⋯I motifs

Intra-halogen bond J couplings measured via NMR spectroscopy and interpreted using natural localized molecular orbitals offer novel insights into this class of non-covalent interaction.

Dynamic nuclear polarisation enhanced14N overtone MAS NMR spectroscopy

Dynamic nuclear polarisation has been used to obtain solid-state¹⁴N overtone NMR spectra with signal enhancement levels of over two orders of magnitude, including natural abundance C–N and H–N correlation spectra.

The WURST kind of pulses in solid-state NMR

WURST pulses (wideband, uniform rate, smooth truncation) were first introduced two decades ago by Kupče and Freeman as a means of achieving broadband adiabatic inversion of magnetisation for solution-state (13)C decoupling at high magnetic field strengths. In more recent years these pulses have found use in an increasingly diverse range of applications in solid-state NMR. This article reviews a number of recent developments that take advantage of WURST pulses, including broadband excitation, refocusing and cross polarisation for the acquisition of ultra-wideline powder patterns, signal enhancement for half-integer and integer spin quadrupolar nuclei, spectral editing, direct and indirectly observed (14)N overtone MAS, and symmetry-based homonuclear recoupling. Simple mathematical descriptions of WURST pulses and some brief theory behind their operation in the adiabatic and non-adiabatic regimes are provided, and various practical considerations for their use are also discussed.

Ultra-wideline solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Although solid-state NMR (SSNMR) provides rich information about molecular structure and dynamics, the small spin population differences between pairs of spin states that give rise to NMR transitions make it an inherently insensitive spectroscopic technique in terms of signal acquisition. Scientists have continuously addressed this issue via improvements in NMR hardware and probes, increases in the strength of the magnetic field, and the development of innovative pulse sequences and acquisition methodologies. As a result, researchers can now study NMR-active nuclides previously thought to be unobservable or too unreceptive for routine examination via SSNMR. Several factors can make it extremely challenging to detect signal or acquire spectra using SSNMR: (i) low gyromagnetic ratios (i.e., low Larmor frequencies), (ii) low natural abundances or dilution of the nuclide of interest (e.g., metal nuclides in proteins or in organometallic catalysts supported on silica), (iii) inconvenient relaxation characteristics (e.g., very long longitudinal or very short transverse relaxation times), and/or (iv) extremely broad powder patterns arising from large anisotropic NMR interactions. Our research group has been particularly interested in efficient acquisition of broad NMR powder patterns for a variety of spin-1/2 and quadrupolar (spin > 1/2) nuclides. Traditionally, researchers have used the term "wideline" NMR to refer to experiments yielding broad (1)H and (2)H SSNMR spectra ranging from tens of kHz to ∼250 kHz in breadth. With modern FT NMR hardware, uniform excitation in these spectral ranges is relatively easy, allowing for the acquisition of high quality spectra. However, spectra that range in breadth from ca. 250 kHz to tens of MHz cannot be uniformly excited with conventional, high-power rectangular pulses. Rather, researchers must apply special methodologies to acquire such spectra, which have inherently low S/N because the signal intensity is spread across such large spectral breadths. We have suggested the term ultra-wideline NMR (UWNMR) spectroscopy to describe this set of methodologies. This Account describes recent developments in pulse sequences and strategies for the efficient acquisition of UWNMR spectra. After an introduction to anisotropically broadened NMR patterns, we give a brief history of methods used to acquire UWNMR spectra. We then discuss new acquisition methodologies, including the acquisition of CPMG echo trains and the application of pulses capable of broadband excitation and refocusing. Finally, we present several applications of UWNMR methods that use these broadband pulses.

14N overtone NMR spectra under magic angle spinning: experiments and numerically exact simulations

It was recently shown that high resolution (14)N overtone NMR spectra can be obtained directly under magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions [L. A. O'Dell and C. I. Ratcliffe, Chem. Phys. Lett. 514, 168 (2011)]. Preliminary experimental results showed narrowed powder pattern widths, a frequency shift that is dependent on the MAS rate, and an apparent absence of spinning sidebands, observations which appeared to be inconsistent with previous theoretical treatments. Herein, we reproduce these effects using numerically exact simulations that take into account the full nuclear spin Hamiltonian. Under sample spinning, the (14)N overtone signal is split into five (0, ±1, ±2) overtone sidebands separated by the spinning frequency. For a powder sample spinning at the magic angle, the +2ω(r) sideband is dominant while the others show significantly lower signal intensities. The resultant MAS powder patterns show characteristic quadrupolar lineshapes from which the (14)N quadrupolar parameters and isotropic chemical shift can be determined. Spinning the sample at other angles is shown to alter both the shapes and relative intensities of the five overtone sidebands, with MAS providing the benefit of averaging dipolar couplings and shielding anisotropy. To demonstrate the advantages of this experimental approach, we present the (14)N overtone MAS spectrum obtained from L-histidine, in which powder patterns from all three nitrogen sites are clearly resolved.

An efficient NMR method for the characterisation of 14N sites through indirect 13C detection

Nitrogen is one of the most abundant elements and plays a key role in the chemistry of biological systems. Despite its widespread distribution, the study of the naturally occurring isotope of nitrogen, (14)N (99.6%), has been relatively limited as it is a spin-1 nucleus that typically exhibits a large quadrupolar interaction. Accordingly, most studies of nitrogen sites in biomolecules have been performed on samples enriched with (15)N, limiting the application of NMR to samples which can be isotopically enriched. This precludes the analysis of naturally occurring samples and results in the loss of the wealth of structural and dynamic information that the quadrupolar interaction can provide. Recently, several experimental approaches have been developed to characterize (14)N sites through their interaction with neighboring 'spy' nuclei. Here we describe a novel version of these experiments whereby coherence between the (14)N site and the spy nucleus is mediated by the application of a moderate rf field to the (14)N. The resulting (13)C/(14)N spectra show good sensitivity on natural abundance and labeled materials; whilst the (14)N lineshapes permit the quantitative analysis of the quadrupolar interaction.

Dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy of microcrystalline solids

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid-state NMR has been applied to powdered microcrystalline solids to obtain sensitivity enhancements on the order of 100. Glucose, sulfathiazole, and paracetamol were impregnated with bis-nitroxide biradical (bis-cyclohexyl-TEMPO-bisketal, bCTbK) solutions of organic solvents. The organic solvents were carefully chosen to be nonsolvents for the compounds, so that DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR spectra of the unaltered solids could be acquired. A theoretical model is presented that illustrates that for externally doped organic solids characterized by long spin-lattice relaxation times (T(1)((1)H) > 200 s), (1)H-(1)H spin diffusion can relay enhanced polarization over micrometer length scales yielding substantial DNP enhancements (ε). ε on the order of 60 are obtained for microcrystalline glucose and sulfathiazole at 9.4 T and with temperatures of ca. 105 K. The large gain in sensitivity enables the rapid acquisition of (13)C-(13)C correlation spectra at natural isotopic abundance. It is anticipated that this will be a general method for enhancing the sensitivity of solid-state NMR experiments of organic solids.