Tomasz Ratajczyk

Synthesis, Solid-State NMR Characterization, and Application for Hydrogenation Reactions of a Novel Wilkinson’s-Type Immobilized Catalyst

Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) were chosen as a solid support material for the immobilization of a new Wilkinsons-type catalyst. In a first step, polymer molecules (poly(triphenylphosphine)ethylene (PTPPE); 4-diphenylphosphine styrene as monomer) were grafted onto the silica nanoparticles by surface-initiated photoinferter-mediated polymerization (SI-PIMP). The catalyst was then created by binding rhodium (Rh) to the polymer side chains, with RhCl3⋅x H2O as a precursor. The triphenylphosphine units and rhodium as Rh(I) provide an environment to form Wilkinsons catalyst-like structures. Employing multinuclear ((31)P, (29)Si, and (13)C) solid-state NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR), the structure of the catalyst bound to the polymer and the intermediates of the grafting reaction have been characterized. Finally, first applications of this catalyst in hydrogenation reactions employing para-enriched hydrogen gas (PHIP experiments) and an assessment of its leaching properties are presented.

Understanding the leaching properties of heterogenized catalysts: A combined solid-state and PHIP NMR study

Para-hydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) NMR in solution, combined with solid-state NMR, can be efficiently employed for the highly sensitive in-situ detection of the leaching properties of immobilized catalysts. The knowledge of this property is important for possible applications of PHIP experiments in medicine, biology or industry, where leached catalysts poison the solution of hyperpolarized products. As experimental example Wilkinsons catalyst RhCl(PPh(3))(3) (1) immobilized on mesoporous silica is chosen. As model reaction the hydrogenation of styrene in solvents with different polarities (methanol-d(4), acetone-d(6) and benzene-d(6)) is used. A (31)P solid-state MAS-NMR study reveals that there are two different species of catalysts on the silica, namely coordinatively bound catalysts and physisorbed catalyst. Only the second species exhibits substantial leaching, which is visible in a strong PHIP enhancement of the reaction product.

Time domain para hydrogen induced polarization

Para hydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) is a powerful hyperpolarization technique, which increases the NMR sensitivity by several orders of magnitude. However the hyperpolarized signal is created as an anti-phase signal, which necessitates high magnetic field homogeneity and spectral resolution in the conventional PHIP schemes. This hampers the application of PHIP enhancement in many fields, as for example in food science, materials science or MRI, where low B(0)-fields or low B(0)-homogeneity do decrease spectral resolution, leading to potential extinction if in-phase and anti-phase hyperpolarization signals cannot be resolved. Herein, we demonstrate that the echo sequence (45°-τ-180°-τ) enables the acquisition of low resolution PHIP enhanced liquid state NMR signals of phenylpropiolic acid derivatives and phenylacetylene at a low cost low-resolution 0.54 T spectrometer. As low field TD-spectrometers are commonly used in industry or biomedicine for the relaxometry of oil-water mixtures, food, nano-particles, or other systems, we compare two variants of para-hydrogen induced polarization with data-evaluation in the time domain (TD-PHIP). In both TD-ALTADENA and the TD-PASADENA strong spin echoes could be detected under conditions when usually no anti-phase signals can be measured due to the lack of resolution. The results suggest that the time-domain detection of PHIP-enhanced signals opens up new application areas for low-field PHIP-hyperpolarization, such as non-invasive compound detection or new contrast agents and biomarkers in low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Finally, solid-state NMR calculations are presented, which show that the solid echo (90y-τ-90x-τ) version of the TD-ALTADENA experiment is able to convert up to 10% of the PHIP signal into visible magnetization.

NMR Signal Enhancement by Effective SABRE Labeling of Oligopeptides

Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) can enhance nuclear magnetic resonance signals by several orders of magnitude. However, until now this was limited to a small number of model target molecules. Here, a new convenient method for SABRE activation applicable to a variety of synthetic model oligopeptides is demonstrated. For the first time, a highly SABRE-active pyridine-based biocompatible molecular framework is incorporated into synthetic oligopeptides. The SABRE activity is preserved, demonstrating the importance of such earmarking. Finally, a crucial exchange process responsible for SABRE activity is identified and discussed.

Spin-lattice relaxation study of the methyl proton dynamics in solid 9,10-dimethyltriptycene (DMT)

Proton spin-lattice relaxation studies are performed for powder samples of 9,10-dimethyltriptycene (DMT) and its isotopomer DMT-d(12) in which all the non-methyl protons in the molecule are replaced by deuterons. The relaxation data are interpreted in terms of the conventional relaxation theory based on the random jump model in which the Pauli correlations between the relevant spin and torsional states are discarded. The Arrhenius activation energies, obtained from the relaxation data, 25.3 and 24.8 kJ mol(-1) for DMT and DMT-d(12), respectively, are very high as for the methyl groups. The validity of the jump model in the present case is considered from the perspective of Haupt theory in which the Pauli principle is explicitly invoked. To this purpose, the dynamic quantities entering the Haupt model are reinterpreted in the spirit of the damped quantum rotation (DQR) approach introduced recently for the purpose of NMR lineshape studies of hindered molecular rotators. Theoretical modelling of the relevant methyl group dynamics, based on the DQR theory, was performed. From these calculations it is inferred that direct assessments of the torsional barrier heights, based on the Arrhenius activation energies extracted from relaxation data, should be treated with caution.

Theory of damped quantum rotation in nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. II. Numerical simulations for the benzene rotor

In Part I of this series of papers, the damped quantum rotation (DQR) theory, formulated originally for hindered threefold molecular rotors in solids, was generalized to the N-fold case. The stochastic dynamics of such objects, evidenced in NMR line shapes, was shown to be more complicated than in the standard model of classical jumps between the wells of the N-fold torsional potential. Actually, it comprises certain quantum rate (i.e., coherence-damping) processes subject to the requirements of the Pauli principle. The jump picture is recovered only when the quantum rates fit specific patterns. In this work, one of the ways of approaching such a classical limit is identified for the benzene rotor. This is inferred from a quantum mechanical model whose validity was earlier confirmed for a methyl group. Based on that model, theoretical calculations for the benzene ring dynamics in a clathrate crystal, 1-(9-anthryloxy)anthraquinone/benzene-d6, confronted with the pertinent literature data, point to possible deviations from the classical limit. However, the predicted DQR effects are too small to be observed in solid echo 2H NMR spectra of the C6D6 isotopomer. The chances of detecting the effects are improved when Carr-Purcell echo 1H spectra of a single crystal of the isotopomer including C6H6 as a guest are considered. The substantial differences in the sensitivity to the DQR effects of the spectra of protonated and deuterated benzene are concerned with different magnitudes of the intramolecular dipolar spin couplings. The dynamic isotope effect (C6D6 vs C6H6), which is small in this case, is only of secondary importance. Legitimacy of the use of the jump model in 2H NMR line shape studies of benzene-d6 is fully confirmed by the present considerations. However, the physical significance of the dynamic parameters extracted from such studies is shown from a new perspective.

Unusual effects in variable temperature powder NMR spectra of the methyl group protons in 9,10-dimethyltriptycene-d12

Variable temperature (1)H wide line NMR spectra of polycrystalline 9,10-dimethyltriptycene-d12 deuterated in the aromatic positions were studied. The spectra show different patterns in an unrepeatable dependence on the way of preparation of the powdered samples. Simultaneously, no anomalies were seen in the MAS and CPMAS proton-decoupled room-temperature (13)C spectra as well as in powder X-ray diffraction patterns. The effects observed in the (1)H spectra are tentatively explained in terms of a phenomenological model. For one of the examined samples it afforded a consistent interpretation of the entire series of temperature dependent spectra in terms of structural non uniformity of the solid material studied. Quantum character of the stochastic dynamics of the methyl groups in the investigated compound was confirmed, although these dynamics are close to the classical limit where the familiar random jump model applies.

Efficient design of multituned transmission line NMR probes: The electrical engineering approach

Transmission line-based multi-channel solid state NMR probes have many advantages regarding the cost of construction, number of RF-channels, and achievable RF-power levels. Nevertheless, these probes are only rarely employed in solid state-NMR-labs, mainly owing to the difficult experimental determination of the necessary RF-parameters. Here, the efficient design of multi-channel solid state MAS-NMR probes employing transmission line theory and modern techniques of electrical engineering is presented. As technical realization a five-channel ((1)H, (31)P, (13)C, (2)H and (15)N) probe for operation at 7 Tesla is described. This very cost efficient design goal is a multi port single coil transmission line probe based on the design developed by Schaefer and McKay. The electrical performance of the probe is determined by measuring of Scattering matrix parameters (S-parameters) in particular input/output ports. These parameters are compared to the calculated parameters of the design employing the S-matrix formalism. It is shown that the S-matrix formalism provides an excellent tool for examination of transmission line probes and thus the tool for a rational design of these probes. On the other hand, the resulting design provides excellent electrical performance. From a point of view of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), calibration spectra of particular ports (channels) are of great importance. The estimation of the π/2 pulses length for all five NMR channels is presented.

New investigations of technical rhodium and iridium catalysts in homogeneous phase employing para-hydrogen induced polarization.

It is shown that the para-hydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) phenomenon in homogenous solution containing the substrate styrene is also observable employing simple inorganic systems of the form MCl(3)·xH(2)O (M=Rh, Ir) as catalyst. Such observation confirms that already very simple metal complexes enable the creation of PHIP signal enhancement in solution. This opens up new pathways to increase the sensitivity of NMR and MRT by PHIP enhancement using cost-effective catalysts and will be essential for further mechanistic studies of simple transition metal systems.

Hindered Rotation of the Silyl Group in Liquid-Phase NMR Spectra of 9-Silyltriptycene Derivatives : A Comparison with the Methyl Analogues

Three 9-silyltriptycene derivatives, 1,4-dichloro- (DCST), 1,4-dibromo- (DBST), and 1,4-dimethyl-9-silyltriptycene (DMST) were synthesized, and temperature-variable (1)H NMR spectra thereof were measured. Below 220 K for DMST, and below 250 K for DCST and DBST, rotation of the silyl group becomes practically frozen on the NMR time scale. Iterative line shape analysis of the silyl proton spectra reveals that the familiar Alexander-Binsch line shape equation, employing only one rate constant for the observed rate process, is adequate in these cases. This is at a striking variance with the behavior of the methyl group in the analogous compounds, investigated by us recently, where fingerprints of the damped quantum rotation effect, a phenomenon once predicted by us, are clearly visible in the experimental spectra of the methyl protons. In the damped rotation approach, the relevant dynamics are described in terms of two quantum rate processes characterized by two coherence-damping constants, and the Alexander-Binsch model is obtained as a limiting case where these two constants become equal. The possible reasons of the differences between the dynamics of the silyl and methyl groups in the same molecular environment are discussed.