A High-Resolution17O NMR Study of Siliceous Zeolite Faujasite

Facile, Room-Temperature 17O Enrichment of Zeolite Frameworks Revealed by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

A new approach for room-temperature ¹⁷O enrichment of zeolites reveals a surprisingly dynamic and labile framework, where rapid and reversible bond breaking takes place. ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy shows that although O sites in both framework Si-O-Al and Si-O-Si linkages are enriched simply on exposure to H₂¹⁷O(l), the enrichment of Si-O-Al species is more rapid, with a more uniform framework enrichment observed at longer durations. We demonstrate that this unexpected enrichment can be observed for two different framework topologies and for Na-exchanged (i.e., nonacidic) zeolites, as well as their protonic forms, confirming that the Brønsted acid proton is not necessary for isotopic exchange into the framework. This work not only offers new opportunities for structural characterization of these chemically and industrially important materials using NMR spectroscopy but suggests that further investigation of the rate and position of enrichment in zeolite frameworks could provide new insight into their chemical reactivity and their stability in aqueous-based applications such as ion exchange and catalysis.

Recent developments in solid-state NMR spectroscopy of crystalline microporous materials

Microporous materials, having pores and channels on the same size scale as small to medium molecules, have found many important applications in current technologies, including catalysis, gas separation and drug storage and delivery. Many of their properties and functions are related to their detailed local structure, such as the type and distribution of active sites within the pores, and the specific structures of these active sites. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has a strong track record of providing the requisite detailed atomic-level insight into the structures of microporous materials, in addition to being able to probe dynamic processes occurring on timescales spanning many orders of magnitude (i.e., from s to ps). In this Perspective, we provide a brief review of some of the basic experimental approaches used in solid-state NMR spectroscopy of microporous materials, and then discuss some more recent advances in this field, particularly those applied to the study of crystalline materials such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks. These advances include improved software for aiding spectral interpretation, the development of the NMR-crystallography approach to structure determination, new routes for the synthesis of isotopically-labelled materials, methods for the characterisation of host-guest interactions, and methodologies suitable for observing NMR spectra of paramagnetic microporous materials. Finally, we discuss possible future directions, which we believe will have the greatest impact on the field over the coming years.

Combining dipolar-quadrupolar correlation spectroscopy with isotropic shift resolution in magic-angle-spinning 17O NMR

We explore the effect of heteronuclear dipolar recoupling on the satellite and multiple-quantum transitions of a half-integer-spin quadrupolar nucleus coupled to a single spin-12. A three-dimensional experiment is introduced that resolves different quadrupolar sites whilst allowing simultaneous extraction of the quadrupolar coupling constants, asymmetry parameters of the electric field gradient, and the isotropic shifts of the quadrupolar nucleus. The experiment also enables estimation of the heteronuclear dipolar coupling constant between the spin-1/2 and half-integer spin quadrupolar nucleus. The relative orientation of the dipolar tensor with respect to the quadrupolar tensor can be estimated by comparing experiments and simulations. Experimental results are shown on a sample of brucite, Mg((17)OH)(2), where the (1)H-(17)O bond distance is estimated.

Solid-state MAS NMR studies of Brønsted acid sites in zeolite H-Mordenite

(17)O-(1)H double resonance NMR spectroscopy was used to study the local structure of zeolite H-Mordenite. Different contact times were used in cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR, CP rotational-echo double resonance (CP-REDOR) NMR, and heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) NMR spectroscopy to distinguish between Brønsted acid sites with different O-H distances. The accessibility of the various Brønsted acid sites was quantified by adsorbing the basic probe molecule trimethylphosphine in known amounts. On the basis of these experiments, locations of different Brønsted acid sites in H-Mordenite (H-MOR) were proposed. The use of (17)O chemical shift correlations to help assign sites is discussed.

Solid state NMR of porous materials : zeolites and related materials

Solid state NMR spectroscopy applied to the science of crystalline micro- and mesoporous silica materials over the past 10 years is reviewed. A survey is provided of framework structure and connectivity analyses from chemical shift effects of various elements in zeolites including heteroatom substitutions, framework defects and pentacoordinated silicon for zeolites containing fluoride ions. New developments in the field of NMR crystallography are included. Spatial host-guest ordering and confinement effects of zeolite-sorbate complexes are outlined, with special emphasis on NMR applications utilizing the heteronuclear dipolar interaction. The characterization of zeolite acid sites and in situ NMR on catalytic conversions is also included. Finally, the motion of extra-framework cations is investigated in two tutorial cases of sodium hopping in sodalite and cancrinite.

(17)O DOR and other solid-state NMR studies concerning the basic properties of zeolites LSX

We demonstrate complementary (1)H, (17)O, (27)Al and (29)Si measurements for basic low-silica-X zeolites, which were unloaded and pyrrole and formic acid-loaded. It was found that the acid-base-system is not stabile, if the loading exceeds one pyrrole molecule or two formic acid molecules per supercage.(17)O DOR NMR spectra exhibit at least four lines, which are broadened by a distribution of chemical shifts in a similar extend as the (29)Si MAS NMR spectra are broadened by distribution of Si-O-Al angles. A strong cation influence upon (17)O shifts was observed. But there was no strong influence of the acid molecules on the mean value of the (17)O shift of the spectra.

Multidimensional solid state NMR of anisotropic interactions in peptides and proteins

Accurate determinations of chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensors are valuable for NMR of biological systems. In this review we describe recent developments in CSA measurement techniques and applications, particularly in the context of peptides and proteins. These techniques include goniometeric measurements of single crystals, slow magic-angle spinning studies of powder samples, and CSA recoupling under moderate to fast MAS. Experimental CSA data can be analyzed by comparison with ab initio calculations for structure determination and refinement. This approach has particularly high potential for aliphatic (13)C analysis, especially Calpha tensors which are directly related to structure. Carbonyl and (15)N CSA tensors demonstrate a more complex dependence upon hydrogen bonding and electrostatics, in addition to conformational dependence. The improved understanding of these tensors and the ability to measure them quantitatively provide additional opportunities for structure determination, as well as insights into dynamics.

Symmetry-based recoupling of 17O-1H spin pairs in magic-angle spinning NMR

We have performed magic-angle-spinning solid-state NMR experiments in which protons are recoupled to oxygen-17 nuclei by applying a symmetry-based recoupling sequence at the proton Larmor frequency. Two-dimensional quadrupole-dipole correlation spectra are produced, in which the second-order quadrupolar shift of the oxygen-17 central transition is correlated with the recoupled heteronuclear dipole-dipole interaction. These spectra are sensitive to the relative orientation of the electric field gradient at the site of the oxygen-17 nucleus and the O-H internuclear vector. We also demonstrate experiments in which polarization is transferred from protons to oxygen-17, and show that oxygen-17 signals may be selected according to the protonation state of the oxygen site. We discuss the small observed value of the heteronuclear dipolar splitting in the central-transition oxygen-17 spectra.

Experimental and Theoretical 17O NMR Study of the Influence of Hydrogen-Bonding on CO and O−H Oxygens in Carboxylic Solids

A systematic solid-state 17O NMR study of a series of carboxylic compounds, maleic acid, chloromaleic acid, KH maleate, KH chloromaleate, K2 chloromaleate, and LiH phthalate.MeOH, is reported. Magic-angle spinning (MAS), triple-quantum (3Q) MAS, and double angle rotation (DOR) 17O NMR spectra were recorded at high magnetic fields (14.1 and 18.8 T). 17O MAS NMR for metal-free carboxylic acids and metal-containing carboxylic salts show featured spectra and demonstrate that this combined, where necessary, with DOR and 3QMAS, can yield site-specific information for samples containing multiple oxygen sites. In addition to 17O NMR spectroscopy, extensive quantum mechanical calculations were carried out to explore the influence of hydrogen bonding at these oxygen sites. B3LYP/6-311G++(d,p) calculations of 17O NMR parameters yielded good agreement with the experimental values. Linear correlations are observed between the calculated 17O NMR parameters and the hydrogen bond strengths, suggesting the possibility of estimating H-bonding information from 17O NMR data. The calculations also revealed intermolecular H-bond effects on the 17O NMR shielding tensors. It is found that the delta11 and delta22 components of the chemical shift tensor at O-H and C=O, respectively, are aligned nearly parallel with the strong H-bond and shift away from this direction as the H-bond interaction weakens.

Explaining the Effects of T−O−T Bond Angles on NMR Chemical Shifts in Aluminosilicates: A Natural Bonding Orbital (NBO) and Natural Chemical Shielding (NCS) Analysis

It has long been recognized that the 29Si and 27Al NMR chemical shifts for aluminosilicate crystals and glasses correlate to some extent with the T-O-T bond angle (where T is the tetrahedral atom Si or Al). With increasing T-O-T bond angle, the 29Si and 27Al NMR shieldings increase and the shifts thus become more negative. This result has been demonstrated both experimentally and through quantum computations. However, no simple qualitative explanation has ever been given for what appears to be a simple qualitative trend. We here provide such an explanation based upon quantum calculations. We have used high level ab initio NMR shielding calculations, natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis, and natural chemical shielding (NCS) analysis, performed on model clusters with different T-O-T angles, to obtain an explanation for this trend from an electronic structure point of view. On the basis of both NBO populations and the NCS analysis, the following factors account for the correlation of shift with T-O-T angle: (1) a slight increase in population of the Al-O and Si-O bond orbital electrons and a dramatic change in bond orbital shapes and hybridization (with more s character and less bond bending as the T-O-T angle increases), (2) a movement of one of the lone pairs on O toward the vicinity of the Si or Al as the T-O-T angle increases, and (3) a change in the shielding contribution from the core 2p electrons of Al or Si. The changes in the 17O NMR shift with T-O-T angle are more complex, and the shifts are also more strongly influenced by distant atoms, but some systematic changes in O lone pair contributions can be identified.

Detection of Brønsted acid sites in zeolite HY with high-field 17O-MAS-NMR techniques

The acidity and unique porous structures of zeolites play an important role in controlling the activity and selectivity of many zeolite-based catalysts. Although (27)Al, (29)Si and (1)H NMR spectroscopy represent standard analytical tools with which to study these materials, (17)O-NMR investigations are much less routine, owing to the very low natural abundance of (17)O (0.037%), its relatively low resonant frequency and its large quadrupole moment. (17)O-NMR resonances from framework oxygen sites in a variety of zeolites have been detected, but the (17)O-NMR resonance from oxygen directly bound to the Brønsted acid site (Si-O(H)-Al) has remained elusive. Here we report the direct observation of this resonance in dehydrated zeolite HY, by using high magnetic-field strengths. (17)O-(1)H double-resonance NMR experiments are used to prove unambiguously that the (17)O signal arises from O nearby H atoms. A large quadrupolar coupling constant, the measure of the local distortion of this site, of 6.6 MHz is determined, which is similar to that obtained in ab initio calculations of zeolite HY-like clusters; this value drops to 5 MHz on acetone binding. The results presented in this paper open up methods for characterizing zeolite acidity and investigating H(+)-sorbent interactions.

Comparison of the (17)O NMR spectra of zeolites LTA and LSX

17O NMR studies of various cation-exchanged LTA and LSX zeolites have shown similarities between the two systems. LSX samples containing divalent cations contain resonances with similar chemical shifts to those previously assigned to 'bare' framework oxygen atoms in Ca-LTA and Sr-LTA. The assignments are consistent with the trends seen in the spectra of monovalent cation-containing LSX and LTA zeolites, which show an increase in the average chemical shift with increasing cationic radius. The spectrum of Li-LSX, like Na-LSX, can be assigned based on the T-O-T bond angles. Gas sorption studies on Li-LSX are used to help identify the framework oxygen atoms that form the beta-cages and demonstrate the sensitivity of the (17)O shifts to gas loading.

A review of oxygen-17 solid-state NMR of organic materials--towards biological applications

17O solid state NMR of organic materials is developing rapidly. This article provides a snapshot of the current state of development of this field. The NMR techniques and enrichment protocols that are driving this progress are outlined. The (17)O parameters derived from solid-state NMR experiments are summarized and the structural sensitivity of the approach to effects such as hydrogen bonding highlighted. The prospects and challenges for (17)O solid-state NMR of biomolecules are discussed.

First-Principles Calculation of the 17O NMR Parameters in Ca Oxide and Ca Aluminosilicates: the Partially Covalent Nature of the Ca−O Bond, a Challenge for Density Functional Theory

We apply density functional theory (DFT) to the calculation of the (17)O NMR parameters in Ca and Mg oxides and aluminosilicates. We study the accuracy of the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized-gradient approximation to DFT in the description of these systems and the origin of the experimentally observed large dependence of the (17)O chemical shift on the alkaline earth ion. We find that (i) the partially covalent nature of the Ca-O bond has a huge impact on the O chemical shifts. The Ca-O covalence alone explains why in Ca oxides and aluminosilicates the (17)O chemical shifts are much more deshielded than those of the corresponding Mg compounds. (ii) The Ca-O covalence is overestimated by the PBE functional. Thus PBE-DFT is not able to reproduce the measured (17)O NMR parameters in Ca oxide and Ca aluminosilicates. (iii) It is possible to correct for the PBE-DFT deficiency in a simple and transferable way and to predict very accurate (17)O NMR parameters. Such accuracy allows us to assign the (17)O NMR spectra of two important model systems: the grossite aluminate (CaAl(4)O(7)) and the wollastonite (CaSiO(3)) silicate.

In situ IR, NMR, EPR, and UV/Vis Spectroscopy: Tools for New Insight into the Mechanisms of Heterogeneous Catalysis

The development of new solid catalysts for use in industrial chemistry has hitherto been based to a large extent upon the empirical testing of a wide range of different materials. In only a few exceptional cases has success been achieved in understanding the overall, usually very complex mechanism of the chemical reaction through the elucidation of individual intermediate aspects of a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction. With the modern approach of combinatorial catalysis it is now possible to prepare and test much more rapidly a wide range of different materials within a short time and thus find suitable catalysts or optimize their chemical composition. Our understanding of the mechanisms of reactions catalyzed by these materials must be developed, however, by spectroscopic investigations on working catalysts under conditions that are as close as possible to practice (temperature, partial pressures of the reactants, space velocity). This demands the development and the application of new techniques of in situ spectroscopy. This review will show how this objective is being achieved. By the term in situ (Lat.: in the original position) is meant the investigation of the chemical reactions which are taking place as well as the changes in the working catalysts directly in the spectrometer.

17O NMR studies of low silicate zeolites

Multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning and double-rotation NMR techniques were applied in the high field of 17.6 T to the study of oxygen-17-enriched zeolites A and LSX with the ratio Si/Al = 1. A monotonic correlation between the isotropic value of the chemical shift and the Si-O-Al bond angle alpha (taken from X-ray data) could be found. Hydration of the zeolites causes a downfield 17O NMR chemical shift of about 8 ppm with respect to the dehydrated zeolites. Ion exchange of the hydrated zeolites generates stronger chemical shift effects. The increase of the basicity of the oxygen framework of the zeolite LSX is reflected by a downfield shift of approx. 10 ppm going from the lithium to the cesium form, and the substitution of sodium by thallium in the zeolite A causes a shift of 34 ppm for the O3 signal. 17O DOR NMR spectra are superior to 17O 3QMAS NMR spectra, featuring a resolution increase by a factor of 2 and are about equal with respect to the sensitivity. The residual linewidths of the signals in the 17O DOR and 17O 5QMAS NMR spectra can be explained by a distribution of the Si-O-Al angles in the zeolites.

An ab initio calculation of 17O and 29Si NMR parameters for SiO2 polymorphs

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations (Hartree-Fock, HF and density functional theories, DFTs) have been carried out for SiO2 polymorphs coesite, low cristobalite, and alpha-quartz, in order to investigate the reliability of this method for predicting 29Si and 17O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties of silicates. Oxygen- and silicon-centered clusters consisting of one (1T) to three tetrahedral (3T) shells (one to four atomic shells), taken from real crystal structure, have been investigated. It is found that for reasonable predication of both the 29Si and 17O chemical shifts (deltaSi and delta(i)O), the minimum cluster is one that gives the correct second neighbors to the nucleus of interest. Both the delta(i)Si and delta(i)O have reached convergence with respect to cluster size at the OH-terminated two tetrahedral (2T) shell (three atomic shells around Si and four atomic shells around O) model. At convergence, the calculated delta(i)Si values agree well (within +/- 1 ppm) with experimental data. The calculated 17O electric field gradient (EFG)-related parameters also agree with experimental data within experimental uncertainties. The calculation also reproduces small differences in delta(i)O for O sites with similar tetrahedral connectivities, but shows deviations up to about 10 ppm in relative difference for O sites with different tetrahedral connectivities. The poor performance for the latter is mainly due to the approximations of the HF method. Our study thus suggests that the ab initio calculation method is a reliable mean for predicting 29Si and 17O NMR parameters for silicates. Such an approach should find application not only to well-ordered crystalline phases, but also to disordered materials, by combining with other techniques, such as the molecular dynamics simulation method.

Factors influencing the 17O quadrupole coupling constant in bridging oxygen environments

Ab initio calculations were performed on the series of clusters [(OH)3M-O-M(OH)3](-2) where M = B, Al, and Ga, (OH)3M-O-M(OH)3 where M = C, Si, and Ge, (OH)2OM-O-MO(OH)2 where M = P and As, and (OH)O2M-O-MO2(OH) where M = S and Se. These clusters were constructed to model the effect of changing the coordinating cation and coordinating cation-oxygen distances on the bridging oxygen 17O quadrupole coupling constant. For all clusters studied, we observed a general trend that the magnitude of Cq increases linearly with increasing cation-oxygen bond distance and cation group number, suggesting that group number and cation-bridging oxygen distance can serve as a better predictor of the bridging oxygen quadrupole coupling constant than electronegativity differences.

Very fast MAS and MQMAS NMR studies of the spectroscopically challenging minerals kyanite and andalusite on 400, 500, and 800 MHz spectrometers

The well-characterized minerals kyanite and andalusite have long presented great challenges in using solid state 27Al NMR to determine the isotropic chemical shift deltaCS, quadrupole coupling constant e2qQ/h, and asymmetry parameter eta for each of the inequivalent aluminum sites in these minerals. Indeed, these minerals have frequently been used to test advances in instrumentation. Recent advances in magnet technology (up to 18.8 T = 800 MHz 1H) and in MAS probe technology (spinning up to 35 kHz and considerably stronger rf) and refinements of the two-dimensional, multiple quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) technique suggested that these developments could be profitably used to study kyanite and andalusite by solid state 27Al NMR. The benefit of being able to study kyanite both by MAS and MQMAS techniques on 400, 500, and 800 MHz spectrometers is demonstrated. The two octahedral aluminum sites with the largest (and nearly equal) e2qQ/h values give overlapping 1D MAS or 2D 3QMAS signals at all three field strengths. Nevertheless, quantitatively accurate 3Q signal intensities at 9.4 T for all four octahedral aluminum sites (with e2qQ/h values up to 10 MHz) allow more detailed analysis. Even if the 3Q signal intensities are not quantitative, their isotropic shifts provide an approach (if accurate e2qQ/h and eta values are available) other than deconvolution of the MAS spectrum for calculating deltaCS values. For andalusite, 34 kHz MAS on the 800 MHz spectrometer significantly narrows the extremely broad signal for the octahedral aluminum, and only slight difficulties are encountered in quantitating the relative amounts of AlO5 and AlO6 present. Even with e2qQ/h = 15.3 MHz, the octahedral aluminum in andalusite gives a signal in a MQMAS experiment, albeit of reduced intensity. As appropriate, we discuss some of the benefits and limitations of these advances in instrumentation and of different experimental approaches for studying non-integral spin quadrupolar nuclei in solids.

A comparison of double rotation and multi-quantum magic angle spinning spectra

A field and method independent canonical representation of high-resolution spectra of quadrupole nuclei enables universal analyses of experimental data. The best accuracy from 1D measurements is achieved if DOR and MQ-MAS methods are combined.