0000000000812673
AUTHOR
Alexander Pines
Two-dimensional single- and multiple-quantum correlation spectroscopy in zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance.
We present single- and multiple-quantum correlation $J$-spectroscopy detected in zero ($<\!\!1$~$\mu$G) magnetic field using a \Rb vapor-cell magnetometer. At zero field the spectrum of ethanol appears as a mixture of \carbon isotopomers, and correlation spectroscopy is useful in separating the two composite spectra. We also identify and observe the zero-field equivalent of a double-quantum transition in ${}^{13}$C$_2$-acetic acid, and show that such transitions are of use in spectral assignment. Two-dimensional spectroscopy further improves the high resolution attained in zero-field NMR since selection rules on the coherence-transfer pathways allow for the separation of otherwise overlappi…
Erwin Louis Hahn. 9 June 1921—20 September 2016
Erwin Louis Hahn was one of the most innovative physical scientists in recent history, impacting generations of scientists through his work in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), optics, and the intersection of these two fields. Starting with his discovery of the spin echo, a phenomenon of monumental significance and practical importance, Hahn launched a revolution in how we think about spin physics, with numerous implications following in many other areas of science. Current students of NMR and coherent optics quickly discover that many of the key concepts and techniques in these fields derive directly from his work.
Transition-Selective Pulses in Zero-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
We use low-amplitude, ultralow frequency pulses to drive nuclear spin transitions in zero and ultralow magnetic fields. In analogy to high-field NMR, a range of sophisticated experiments becomes available as these allow narrow-band excitation. As a first demonstration, pulses with excitation bandwidths 0.5–5 Hz are used for population redistribution, selective excitation, and coherence filtration. These methods are helpful when interpreting zero- and ultralow-field NMR spectra that contain a large number of transitions.
Measuring molecular parity nonconservation using nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy
The weak interaction does not conserve parity and therefore induces energy shifts in chiral enantiomers that should in principle be detectable in molecular spectra. Unfortunately, the magnitude of the expected shifts are small and in spectra of a mixture of enantiomers, the energy shifts are not resolvable. We propose a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment in which we titrate the chirality (enantiomeric excess) of a solvent and measure the diasteriomeric splitting in the spectra of a chiral solute in order to search for an anomalous offset due to parity nonconservation (PNC). We present a proof-of-principle experiment in which we search for PNC in the \textsuperscript{13}C resonances…
13C-Decoupled J-Coupling Spectroscopy Using Two-Dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance at Zero-Field
We present a two-dimensional method for obtaining 13C-decoupled, 1H-coupled nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra in zero magnetic field using coherent spin-decoupling. The result is a spectrum determined only by the proton–proton J-coupling network. Detection of NMR signals in zero magnetic field requires at least two different nuclear spin species, but the proton J-spectrum is independent of isotopomer, thus potentially simplifying spectra and thereby improving the analytical capabilities of zero-field NMR. The protocol does not rely on a difference in Larmor frequency between the coupled nuclei, allowing for the direct determination of J-coupling constants between chemically equivalen…
Zero-Field J-spectroscopy of Quadrupolar Nuclei
Zero- to ultralow-field (ZULF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a version of NMR that allows studying molecules and their transformations in the regime dominated by intrinsic spin-spin interactions. While spin dynamics at zero magnetic field can be probed indirectly, J-spectra can also be measured at zero field by using non-inductive sensors, for example, optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs). A J-spectrum can be detected when a molecule contains at least two different types of magnetic nuclei (i.e., nuclei with different gyromagnetic ratios) that are coupled via J-coupling. Up to date, no pure J-spectra of molecules featuring the coupling to quadrupolar nuclei were reported. Here we sho…
Measurement of untruncated nuclear spin interactions via zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance
Zero- to ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZULF NMR) provides a new regime for the measurement of nuclear spin-spin interactions free from effects of large magnetic fields, such as truncation of terms that do not commute with the Zeeman Hamiltonian. One such interaction, the magnetic dipole-dipole coupling, is a valuable source of spatial information in NMR, though many terms are unobservable in high-field NMR, and the coupling averages to zero under isotropic molecular tumbling. Under partial alignment, this information is retained in the form of so-called residual dipolar couplings. We report zero- to ultra-low-field NMR measurements of residual dipolar couplings in acetonitrile…
Rapid hyperpolarization and purification of the metabolite fumarate in aqueous solution
Significance Magnetic resonance imaging is hindered by inherently low sensitivity, which limits the method for the most part to observing water molecules in the body. Hyperpolarized molecules exhibit strongly enhanced MRI signals which opens the door for imaging low-concentration species in vivo. Biomolecules can be hyperpolarized and injected into a patient allowing for metabolism to be tracked in real time, greatly expanding the information available to the radiologist. Parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) is a hyperpolarization method renowned for its low cost and accessibility, but is generally limited by low polarization levels, modest molecular concentrations, and contamination by…
Zero- to Ultralow-Field NMR Spectroscopy of Small Biomolecules.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a well-established analytical technique used to study chemicals and their transformations. However, high-field NMR spectroscopy necessitates advanced infrastructure, and even cryogen-free benchtop NMR spectrometers cannot be readily assembled from commercially available components. We demonstrate construction of a portable zero-field NMR spectrometer employing a commercially available magnetometer and investigate its applications in analytical chemistry. In particular, J-spectra of small representative biomolecules [13C]-formic acid, [1-13C]-glycine, [2,3-13C]-fumarate, and [1-13C]-d-glucose were acquired, and an approach relying on the prese…
Nuclear magnetic resonance at millitesla fields using a zero-field spectrometer
We describe new analytical capabilities for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments in which signal detection is performed with chemical resolution (via spin-spin J couplings) in the zero to ultra-low magnetic field region, below 1μT. Using magnetic fields in the 100μT to 1mT range, we demonstrate the implementation of conventional NMR pulse sequences with spin-species selectivity.
Zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of viscous liquids
Abstract We report zero-field NMR measurements of a viscous organic liquid, ethylene glycol. Zero-field spectra were taken showing resolved scalar spin–spin coupling (J-coupling) for ethylene glycol at different temperatures and water contents. Molecular dynamics strongly affects the resonance linewidth, which closely follows viscosity. Quantum chemical calculations have been used to obtain the relative stability and coupling constants of all ethylene glycol conformers. The results show the potential of zero-field NMR as a probe of molecular structure and dynamics in a wide range of environments, including viscous fluids.
Zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance of chemically exchanging systems.
Zero- to ultralow-field (ZULF) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an emerging tool for precision chemical analysis. In this work, we study dynamic processes and investigate the influence of chemical exchange on ZULF NMR J-spectra. We develop a computational approach that allows quantitative calculation of J-spectra in the presence of chemical exchange and apply it to study aqueous solutions of [15N]ammonium (15N\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathrm{H}}_4^ +$$\end{document}H4+) as a model syst…