Xianqi Kong

Solid-State 17O NMR of Pharmaceutical Compounds: Salicylic Acid and Aspirin

We report solid-state NMR characterization of the (17)O quadrupole coupling (QC) and chemical shift (CS) tensors in five site-specifically (17)O-labeled samples of salicylic acid and o-acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin). High-quality (17)O NMR spectra were obtained for these important pharmaceutical compounds under both static and magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions at two magnetic fields, 14.0 and 21.1 T. A total of 14 (17)O QC and CS tensors were experimentally determined for the seven oxygen sites in salicylic acid and Aspirin. Although both salicylic acid and Aspirin form hydrogen bonded cyclic dimers in the solid state, we found that the potential curves for the concerted double proton transfer in these two compounds are significantly different. In particular, while the double-well potential curve in Aspirin is nearly symmetrical, it is highly asymmetrical in salicylic acid. This difference results in quite different temperature dependencies in (17)O MAS spectra of the two compounds. A careful analysis of variable-temperature (17)O MAS NMR spectra of Aspirin allowed us to obtain the energy asymmetry (ΔE) of the double-well potential, ΔE = 3.0 ± 0.5 kJ/mol. We were also able to determine a lower limit of ΔE for salicylic acid, ΔE > 10 kJ/mol. These asymmetrical features in potential energy curves were confirmed by plane-wave DFT computations, which yielded ΔE = 3.7 and 17.8 kJ/mol for Aspirin and salicylic acid, respectively. To complement the solid-state (17)O NMR data, we also obtained solid-state (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra for salicylic acid and Aspirin. Using experimental NMR parameters obtained for all magnetic nuclei present in salicylic acid and Aspirin, we found that plane-wave DFT computations can produce highly accurate NMR parameters in well-defined crystalline organic compounds.

Variable-temperature 17O NMR studies allow quantitative evaluation of molecular dynamics in organic solids

We report a comprehensive variable-temperature solid-state (17)O NMR study of three (17)O-labeled crystalline sulfonic acids: 2-aminoethane-1-sulfonic acid (taurine, T), 3-aminopropane-1-sulfonic acid (homotaurine, HT), and 4-aminobutane-1-sulfonic acid (ABSA). In the solid state, all three compounds exist as zwitterionic structures, NH(3)(+)-R-SO(3)(-), in which the SO(3)(-) group is involved in various degrees of O···H-N hydrogen bonding. High-quality (17)O NMR spectra have been obtained for all three compounds under both static and magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions at 21.1 T, allowing the complete set of (17)O NMR tensor parameters to be measured. Assignment of the observed (17)O NMR parameters to the correct oxygen sites in the crystal lattice was achieved with the aid of DFT calculations. By modeling the temperature dependence of (17)O NMR powder line shapes, we have not only confirmed that the SO(3)(-) groups in these compounds undergo a 3-fold rotational jump mechanism but also extracted the corresponding jump rates (10(2)-10(5) s(-1)) and the associated activation energies (E(a)) for this process (E(a) = 48 ± 7, 42 ± 3, and 45 ± 1 kJ mol(-1) for T, HT, and ABSA, respectively). This is the first time that SO(3)(-) rotational dynamics have been directly probed by solid-state (17)O NMR. Using the experimental activation energies for SO(3)(-) rotation, we were able to evaluate quantitatively the total hydrogen bond energy that each SO(3)(-) group is involved in within the crystal lattice. The activation energies also correlate with calculated rotational energy barriers. This work provides a clear illustration of the utility of solid-state (17)O NMR in quantifying dynamic processes occurring in organic solids. Similar studies applied to selectively (17)O-labeled biomolecules would appear to be very feasible.

Solid-state ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy of paramagnetic coordination compounds.

High-quality solid-state (17)O (I=5/2) NMR spectra can be successfully obtained for paramagnetic coordination compounds in which oxygen atoms are directly bonded to the paramagnetic metal centers. For complexes containing V(III) (S=1), Cu(II) (S=1/2), and Mn(III) (S=2) metal centers, the (17)O isotropic paramagnetic shifts were found to span a range of more than 10,000 ppm. In several cases, high-resolution (17)O NMR spectra were recorded under very fast magic-angle spinning (MAS) conditions at 21.1 T. Quantum-chemical computations using density functional theory (DFT) qualitatively reproduced the experimental (17)O hyperfine shift tensors.

Multinuclear Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Density Functional Theory Characterization of Interaction Tensors in Taurine

A variety of experimental solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques has been used to characterize each of the elements in 2-aminoethane sulfonic acid (taurine). A combination of (15)N cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS), (14)N ultrawideline, and (14)N overtone experiments enabled a determination of the relative orientation of the nitrogen electric field gradient and chemical shift tensors. (17)O spectra recorded from an isotopically enriched taurine sample at multiple magnetic fields allowed the three nonequivalent oxygen sites to be distinguished, and NMR parameters calculated from a neutron diffraction structure using density functional theory allowed the assignment of the (17)O parameters to the correct crystallographic sites. This is the first time that a complete set of (17)O NMR tensors are reported for a sulfonate group. In combination with (1)H and (13)C MAS spectra, as well as a previously reported (33)S NMR study, this provides a very broad set of NMR data for this relatively simple organic molecule, making it a potentially useful structure on which to test DFT calculation methods (particularly for the quadrupolar nuclei (14)N, (17)O, and (33)S) or NMR crystallography approaches.

Acidity and Hydrogen Exchange Dynamics of Iron(II)‐Bound Nitroxyl in Aqueous Solution

Nitroxyl-iron(II) (HNO-Fe(II)) complexes are often unstable in aqueous solution, thus making them very difficult to study. Consequently, many fundamental chemical properties of Fe(II)-bound HNO have remained unknown. Using a comprehensive multinuclear ((1)H, (15)N, (17)O) NMR approach, the acidity of the Fe(II)-bound HNO in [Fe(CN)5(HNO)](3-) was investigated and its pK(a) value was determined to be greater than 11. Additionally, HNO undergoes rapid hydrogen exchange with water in aqueous solution and this exchange process is catalyzed by both acid and base. The hydrogen exchange dynamics for the Fe(II)-bound HNO have been characterized and the obtained benchmark values, when combined with the literature data on proteins, reveal that the rate of hydrogen exchange for the Fe(II)-bound HNO in the interior of globin proteins is reduced by a factor of 10(6).

Solving the 170-Year-Old Mystery About Red-Violet and Blue Transient Intermediates in the Gmelin Reaction.

The Gmelin reaction between nitroprusside and sulfides in aqueous solution is known to produce two transient intermediates with distinct colors: an initial red-violet intermediate that subsequently converts into a blue intermediate. In this work, we use a combination of multinuclear ((17) O, (15) N, (13) C) NMR, UV/Vis, IR spectroscopic techniques and quantum chemical computation to show unequivocally that the red-violet intermediate is [Fe(CN)5 N(O)S](4-) and the blue intermediate is [Fe(CN)5 N(O)SS)](4-) . While the formation of [Fe(CN)5 N(O)S](4-) has long been postulated in the literature, this study provides the most direct proof of its structure. In contrast, [Fe(CN)5 N(O)SS)](4-) represents the first example of any metal coordination complex containing a perthionitro ligand. The new reaction pathways found in this study not only provide clues for the mode of action of nitroprusside for its pharmacological activity, but also have broader implications to the biological role of H2 S, potential reactions between H2 S and nitric oxide donor compounds, and the possible biological function of polysulfides.

Solid-State (17)O NMR of Oxygen-Nitrogen Singly Bonded Compounds: Hydroxylammonium Chloride and Sodium Trioxodinitrate (Angeli's Salt).

We report a solid-state NMR study of (17)O-labeled hydroxylammonium chloride ([H(17)O-NH3]Cl) and sodium trioxodinitrate monohydrate (Na2[(17)ONNO2]·H2O, Angelis salt). The common feature in these two compounds is that they both contain oxygen atoms that are singly bonded to nitrogen. For this class of oxygen-containing functional groups, there is very limited solid-state (17)O NMR data in the literature. In this work, we experimentally measured the (17)O chemical shift and quadrupolar coupling tensors. With the aid of plane-wave DFT computation, the (17)O NMR tensor orientations were determined in the molecular frame of reference. We found that the characteristic feature of an O-N single bond is that the (17)O nucleus exhibits a large quadrupolar coupling constant (13-15 MHz) but a rather small chemical shift anisotropy (100-250 ppm), in sharp contrast with the nitroso (O═N) functional group for which both quantities are very large (e.g., 16 MHz and 3000 ppm, respectively).

Solid-state 17O NMR study of 2-acylbenzoic acids and warfarin

We report synthesis and solid-state 17O NMR characterization of four site-specifically 17O-labeled 2-acylbenzoic acids (2-RC(O)C6H4COOH) where R=H and CH3): 2-[3-17O]formylbenzoic acid, 2-[1,2-17O2]formylbenzoic acid, 2-[3-17O]acetylbenzoic acid, and 2-[1,2,3-17O3]acetylbenzoic acid. In the solid state, both 2-formyl- and 2-acetyl-benzoic acids exist as the cyclic phthalide form each containing a five-membered lactone ring and a cyclic hemiacetal/hemiketal group. Static and magic-angle-spinning 17O NMR spectra were recorded at 14.1 and 21.1T for these compounds, from which the 17O chemical shift and nuclear quadrupolar coupling tensors were determined for each oxygen site. These results represent the first time that 17O NMR tensors are fully characterized for lactone, cyclic hemiacetal, and cyclic hemiketal functional groups. We also report solid-state 17O NMR data for the cyclic hemiketal group an anticoagulant drug, warfarin. Experimental 17O NMR tensors in these compounds were compared with computational results obtained with a periodic DFT code BAND.

Frontispiece: Solving the 170-Year-Old Mystery About Red-Violet and Blue Transient Intermediates in the Gmelin Reaction

Old Mystery Solved For 170 years the true identities of the red-violet and blue transient intermediates of the Gmelin reaction between nitroprusside and hydrogen sulfide have remained unknown and often disputed in the literature. In their Communication on page 17172 ff., Wu et al. report the structural elucidation of these colorful but rather unstable compounds in this historically important chemical reaction.