NMR study of paper

High quality antique sheets of paper have been characterized by ¹H NMR relaxations and ¹³C CP MAS spectra. Paper can be regarded as a bicomponent material made of cellulose and water plus a small amount of organic and inorganic impurities. Semicrystalline fibrous cellulose, rich in water, is present in the I and I_β forms. The amorphous cellulose, with a low water content, contains a higher amount of paramagnetic impurities and it is characterized by quite short ¹H spin-lattice relaxations and by ¹¹³C resonances with noticeable chemical shifts. Ad hoc tailored pulse sequences are able to produce ¹³C CP MAS spectra in which only the amorphous content of paper is clearly observed. It is shown that water is fully bound to the cellulose lattice. It also seems reasonable to formulate the hypothesis that a larger concentration of paramagnetic ions is located in the amorphous fraction of highly degraded paper compared with paper in good condition.     

On the stability of the ripple phase in the DPPC/PLPC/water ternary system

The effect of incorporation of 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PLPC) on the structure of the P_β′ ripple mesophase in aqueous dispersions of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning dilatometry (SD). For samples containing 34 wt. % ²H₂O and 0–15 wt. % PLPC, a pretransition was observed by DSC. The pretransition disappears at 15 wt. % PLPC. The behavior of thermodynamic functions at the pretransition and main transition gives new insights on the structural changes produced by PLPC on bilayers of DPPC.     

Determination of the degree of acetylation of chitin materials by 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy

¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy has been shown to be a powerful tool to quantify the degree of acetylation of chitin and chitosan. In order to optimise the parameters which afford quantitative ¹³C cross-polarisation magic-angle spinning NMR spectra, a detailed relaxation study has been carried out on selected chitin and deacetylated chitin samples. A relaxation delay of 5 s and a contact time of 1 ms have been found to yield quantitative NMR spectra of samples with deacetylation degree values of 0.68 and 0.16. The measured spin-lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame, T_1ρH, are in the range 6.4–8.9 ms for chitin and 4.3–7.3 ms for deacetylated chitin, while T_CH values for both samples are very similar and range from 0.03 to 0.19 ms. Spin-counting experiments indicate that, within experimental error, all carbon is detected by NMR indicating that the samples studied contain no (or very few) paramagnetic centres.     

Cyclic tetranuclear half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes with 4,7-phenanthroline and hydroxo bridges: crystal structure, solution behaviour and binding to nucleosides

The reaction between [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(H₂O)₃]X₂ and 4,7-phenanthroline (phen) leads to the formation of the rectangular tetranuclear complexes [(η⁶-p-cymene)₄Ru₄(μ-4,7-phen-N⁴,N⁷)₂(μ-OH)₄]X₄ (X = NO₃, 1a; SO₃CF₃, 1b) which have been structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography. ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies suggest the presence of a partially dissociated dinuclear species of type [(η⁶-p-cymene)₂Ru₂(μ-4,7-phen-N⁴,N⁷)(solv)₄]⁴⁺ in equilibrium with the tetranuclear cyclic species found in the solid state. The temperature effect for this equilibrium was studied by variable temperature ¹H NMR experiments in D₂O and MeOD. The results reveal that the proportion of the tetranuclear species increases with the polarity of the solvent which favour stacking interactions between the phenanthroline moieties. In addition, the reactivity of the tetranuclear species towards the nucleosides guanosine (Guo), cytidine (Cyt), 2′-deoxythymidine (Thy) and 2′-deoxyadenosine (dAdo) has been monitored by ¹H NMR as a potential model for the interaction of the 1 species with the probable DNA target. The results reveal that the 1 systems are able to bind the nucleobases endocyclic nitrogen atoms of Guo Cyt, and dAdo.     

1H NMR spectroscopic studies on the characterization of renal cell lines and identification of novel potential markers of in vitro nephrotoxicity

Cell cultures are increasingly used in the evaluation of chemically-induced nephrotoxicity. The utili of renal cell culture systems in toxicology would be improved, however, if better characterized and more specific markers of toxicity were available. High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy is well suited to the study of toxicological events and has identified many novel markers of nephrotoxicity in vivo. In this study, ¹H NMR spectroscopy has been used to characterize the biochemical composition of two renal cell lines of different nephronal origin, LLC-PK₁ (pig proximal tubule) and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK, distal tubule). The early biochemical responses of these cell lines to the model proximal tubular toxin S-(1,2dichlorovinyl)i-L-cysteine (DCVC) and the renal medullary toxin 2-chloroethanamine (CEA) have also been investigated. For each line, 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectra of protein-free acetone extracts of cells and culture medium gave characteristic and reproducible profiles of low MW constituents, including amino and organic acids, glucose and soluble membrane precursors, such as choline and myo-inositol. Treatment-related changes in several low MW compounds not routinely measured in toxicological studies were revealed by NMR specboscopy before marked cytotoxicity was observed by phase contrast microscopy. For example, LLC-PK₁ cells treated with 60 μM DCVC showed a marked decrease in intracellular choline levels within 3 h which suggests an effect on the balance of choline synthesis and utilization. Wrthin 9 h of treatment with DCVC there were decreases in intracellular acetate and alanine concentrations which may be indicative of a decrease in fatty acid oxidation and biglyceride metabolism accompanied by an increase in gluconeogenesis. In MDCK cells, 1 h post treatment with 5 mM CEA, intracellular glycine was decreased. This study indicates the potential power and applicability of ¹H NMR spectroscopy for evaluating the biochemical and metabolic effects of toxins in cell culture systems and provides a novel approach to identifying new markers of tissue damage.     

13C and 1H solid state NMR investigation of hydration effects on gluten dynamics

The effect of hydration on the molecular dynamics of soft wheat gluten was investigated by solid state NMR. For this purpose, we recorded static and MAS ¹H spectra and SPE, CP, and other selective ¹³C spectra under MAS and dipolar decoupling conditions on samples of dry and H₂O and D₂O hydrated gluten. Measurements of carbon-proton CP times and several relaxation times (proton T₁, T_1ρ and T₂, and carbon T₁) were also performed. The combination of these techniques allowed both site-specific and domain-averaged motional information to be obtained in different characteristic frequency ranges. Domains with different structural and dynamic behaviour were identified and the changes induced by hydration on the dynamics of different domains could be monitored. The proton spin diffusion process was exploited to get information on the degree of mixing among different gluten domains. The results are consistent with the “loop and train” model proposed for hydrated gluten.     

Application of CP-MAS and liquid-like solid-state NMR experiments for the study of the ripening-associated cell wall changes in tomato

¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra of an ethanol insoluble material (EIM) prepared from the pericarp of mature-green (MG) and red-ripe (RR) tomato fruits were acquired in ‘liquid-like’ and cross-polarisation with dipolar decoupling and magic angle spinning (CPMAS) conditions using the same triple resonance probe. Such a strategy allowed acquisitions of various NMR experiments aimed at detecting compositional differences as well as distinguishing differences in molecular mobility for various constituent polysaccharides related with the two ripening stages. Increase of the proton dipolar decoupling power levels from 3 to 50–55 kHz during single pulse ¹³C acquisition, led to more intense signals for pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides. This behaviour was interpreted as reflecting motional restrictions of these polysaccharides inside the porous cell wall network. Measurements of the proton rotating frame relaxation times T_1ρ in the ‘liquid-like’ conditions and of the proton transverse relaxation times T₂ from CPMAS spectra, revealed changes in mobilities for some pectic polysaccharides in relation with ripening, particularly for the H1 and H5 protons of -1,5 arabinan (Ara) side chains of rhamnogalacturonans. These data are discussed in relation with known pectic modifications occurring during ripening and associated with the tomato fruit softening.     

Modified chitosan carrying phosphonic and alkyl groups

The introduction of an alkyl chain onto a water soluble modified chitosan (N-methylene phosphonic chitosan) offer the presence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic branched for controlling solubility properties. A simple methodology for the preparation of a new chitosan derivative surfactant, N-lauryl-N-methylene phosphonic chitosan, has been developed. Its chemical identity was determined by FTIR and confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The degree of lauryl substitution was estimated to be 0.33. As a result of the amphiphilic properties, like surface activity typical for surfactants, this derivative opens new perspectives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic field.     

Formation of sulphmyoglobin during expression of horse heart myoglobin in Escherichia coli

Expression of recombinant horse heart myoglobin in Escherichia coli has been found to result in the production of both native and variable amounts (˜ 16–17% total) of two sulphmyoglobin isomers. The recombinant sulphmyoglobin produced consists primarily of the A and B isomers as identified by ¹H NMR spectroscopy with no evidence for production of the C isomer. Conversion of recombinant sulphmyoglobin to the native protein can be achieved by reconstitution with protohaem IX. The possible relationship of this observation to recombinant expression of other heme proteins is discussed.     

Mobility of lipid in complexes of amylose–fatty acids by deuterium and C solid state NMR

Palmitic and lauric acid complexes with amylose were studied by solid state methods: ¹³C CP/MAS NMR, deuterium NMR, X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystalline amylose complexes were found to be in a V-type sixfold single chain helix. The melting points of the complexes were over 100°C, at least 40–50°C higher than the melting points of the free fatty acids. CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectra revealed two resonance peaks at 33.6 and 32.4 ppm for the palmitic acid, which were assigned as free and complexed fatty acid, respectively. A single resonance peak at 32.4 ppm was found for the lauric acid and assigned to the complex. The chemical shift of 32.4 ppm for the complexed fatty acids suggests a combined trans and gauche conformation for the fatty acid chain in the complex. T₁ relaxation measurements on the two palmitic acid resonances show different behavior: a very slow relaxation for the 33.6 ppm and a much faster relaxation (1.2 s) for the 32.4 ppm resonances. The latter was similar to the relaxation of the single resonance of the lauric acid (1.1 s). Temperature dependent deuterium spectra of the amylose–lauric acid and amylose–palmitic acid complexes suggest a complete complexation for the amylose–lauric acid, whereas the amylose–palmitic acid complex is partially disassociated by the thermal treatment. Based on the overall data, a partially disordered model is proposed: an imperfect helix with the fatty acid partly inside and partly out, depending on crystallization conditions and the necessity of placing the carboxyl head outside the V-helix.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid multi-conjugates: unusual bile acid metabolites in human urine

Complete ¹H and ¹³C resonance assignments were made for a new type of 3β,7β-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid doubly conjugated with sulfuric acid at C-3 and N-acetylglucosamine at C-7 and its glycine- and taurine-amidated triple-conjugates by the combined use of several homonuclear and heteronuclear shift-correlated 2D NMR techniques. The effects of sulfation at C-3, N-acetylglucosaminidation at C-7, and aminoacyl amidation at C-24 on the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts and signal multiplicity were clarified. The shielding data serving to characterize each of the bile acid multi-conjugates are also discussed.     

Preparation and physicochemical characteristics of self-assembled nanoparticles of deoxycholic acid modified-carboxymethyl curdlan conjugates

Various deoxycholic acid (DOCA)-modified-carboxymethylated (CM)-curdlan (DCMC) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and XRD. The degree of DOCA substitution (DS), as spectrophotometrically determined, was 2.1, 3.2, 4.1, or 6.3 DOCA groups per hundred sugar residues of CM-curdlan. The physicochemical properties of the self-assembled nanoparticals in aqueous media were investigated using ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy. DCMC conjugates provided monodispersed self-assembled nanoparticles in water, with mean diameter decreasing from 192 to 347 nm with DOCA DS increasing. Moreover, the mean diameter also increased with decreasing pH in PBS. Zeta potential of DCMC self-assembled nanoparticles exhibited near −60 mV in distilled water and −26 to −36 mV in PBS, indicating these nanoparticles were covered with negatively charged CM-curdlan shells. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) of the DCMC were dependent on the degree of substitution (DS) of DOCA and were slightly lower in PBS than in distilled water. The TEM images demonstrated that these self-assembled nanoparticles were of spherical shape.     

Properties of unusual phospholipids. III: Synthesis, monolayer investigations and DSC studies of hydroxy octadeca(e)noic acids and diacylglycerophosphocholines derived therefrom

Diacylglycerophosphocholines containing (R)-3-, (R)-12-, (R)-17-hydroxy octadeca(e)noic acids and the corresponding racemates were synthesized and purified to homogeneity. The influence of the position of the hydroxy group on the monolayer packing properties of these fatty acids and their phosphatidylcholines was studied by Langmuir techniques and 1,2-di-[(R)-12-hydroxy-octadec-cis-9-enyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine displayed the largest lift-off area (330 Ų/molecule). This result was in line with the thermotropic phase behavior of these phospholipids, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC): the gel- to liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature (T_m) passed through a minimum of −15.1°C for 1,2-di-[(R)-12-hydroxy-octadec-cis-9-enyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.     

Synthesis, platinum(II) complexes and structural aspects of the new tetradentate phosphine cis,trans,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)cyclobutane

Several novel dimers of the composition [M₂Cl₄(trans-dppen)₂] (M=Ni (1), Pd (2), Pt (3)) containing trans-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene (trans-dppen) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods, NMR spectroscopy (¹⁹⁵Pt{¹H}, ³¹P{¹H}), elemental analyses, and melting points. The intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of the two diphosphine-bridges in 3 produces [Pt₂Cl₄(dppcb)] (4), where dppcb is the new tetradentate phosphine cis,trans,cis-1,2,3,4-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)cyclobutane. Neither 1 nor the free diphosphine trans-dppen shows this reaction. In the case of 2 the photocycloaddition is slower than in 3. This difference can be explained by the shorter distance between the two aliphatic double bonds in 3 than in 2, but also different transition probabilities within ground and excited states of the used metals could be involved. Furthermore, variable-temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy of 2 or 3 reveals a negative activation entropy of 2 for the [2+2] photocycloaddition, but a positive of 3. The removal of chloride from 4 by precipitating AgCl with AgBF₄, and subsequent treatment with 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) leads to [Pt₂(dppcb)(bipy)₂](BF₄)₄ (5) and [Pt₂(dppcb)(phen)₂](BF₄)₄ (6), respectively. In an analogous reaction of 4 with PMe₂Ph or PMePh₂, [Pt₂(dppcb)(PMe₂Ph)₄](BF₄)₄ (7) and [Pt₂(dppcb)(PMePh₂)₄](BF₄)₄ (8) are formed. Complexes 1–8 show square–planar coordinations, where the compounds 4–8 have also been characterized by the above mentioned methods together with fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (7, 8). The crystal structure of 4 reveals two conformations, which arise from an energetic competition between the sterical demands of dppcb and an ideal square–planar environment of Pt(II). The free tetraphosphine dppcb can be obtained easily from 4 by treatment with NaCN. It has been characterized fully by the above methods including ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray structure analysis shows the pure MMMP-enantiomer in the solid crystal, which is therefore optically active. This chirality is induced by a conformation of dppcb, where all four PPh₂ groups are non-equivalent. Variable-temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy of dppcb confirms this explanation, since the single signal at room temperature is split into two doublets at 183 K. The goal of this article is to demonstrate the facile production of a new tetradentate phosphine from a diphosphine precursor via Pt(II) used as a template.     

Fingerprinting Analysis of Rhizoma Chuanxiong of Commercial Types using 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method

The ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) fingerprints of fractionated non-polar extracts (control substance for a plant drug (CSPD) A) from Rhizoma chuanxiong, the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., of seven specimens from different sources were measured on Fourier Transform (FT)-NMR spectrometer and assigned by comparing them with the ¹H NMR spectra of the isolated pure compounds. The ¹H NMR fingerprints showed exclusively characteristic resonance signals of the major special constituents of the plant. Although the differences in the relative intensity of the ¹H NMR signals due to a discrepancy in the ratio of the major constituents among these samples could be confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, the general features of the ¹H NMR fingerprint established for an authentic sample of the rhizomes of L. chuanxiong exhibited exclusive data from those special compounds and can be used for authenticating L. Chuanxiong species.     

Dynamic properties of water at phosphatidylcholine lipid-bilayer surfaces as seen by deuterium and pulsed field gradient proton NMR

The dynamic properties of water in phosphatidylcholine lipid/water dispersions have been studied, applying a combination of ²H-NMR techniques (quadrupole splitting and spin-lattice relaxation time) and self-diffusion measurements using pulsed field gradient (PFG) ¹H-NMR. The hydration properties of POPC (1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine) were compared with those of DOPC (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine) and EYL (egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (lecithin)). A model is presented that assumes an exponentially decaying influence of the bilayer surface on water dynamics as well as on water orientation with increasing hydration. This assumption is based on an exponentially decaying hydration potential which results from direct lipid-water and water-water interactions. The model describes successfully the experimental data for a large water concentration range, especially at low hydration, where other models failed. With the exception of a small fraction of water which is significantly influenced by the surface in slowing down the mobility, the interbilayer water has isotropic, free water characteristics in terms of correlation times and molecular order. Hydration properties of POPC are comparable with those of EYL but differ from DOPC. At very low water content the correlation times of headgroup segmental reorientation and water are similar, indicating a strong coupling of this water to the lipid lattice. The hydration properties of the three lipids studied are explained in terms of slightly different headgroup conformations due to different lateral packing of the molecules by their fatty-acid chain composition.     

Choline-Containing Compounds in Human Astrocytomas Studied by 1H NMR Spectroscopy In Vivo and In Vitro

Abstract: We have studied 14 patients with different grades of astrocytomas using ¹H NMR spectroscopy in vivo. Typically, astrocytomas exhibited a low N -acetyl-aspartate peak, a prominent signal from choline group-containing compounds, and lactate in the ¹H NMR spectra in vivo. The uncorrected choline/creatine + phosphocreatine peak area ratios were higher in tumors than in normal brain tissue. Absolute concentration of choline-containing compounds (1.74 ± 0.09 mmol/L) in the normal brain tissue was not different in any grade of astrocytoma, but total creatine concentration in healthy brain (7.49 ± 0.30 mmol/L) was higher than that in grade IV astrocytomas (4.84 ± 0.89 mmol/L). Relaxation constants of choline-containing compounds did not differ in tumors from those determined in normal brain. Perchloric acid extracts of biopsy samples from 35 astrocytomas and 13 samples of normal temporal white matter were analyzed with ¹H NMR. Total concentration of choline-containing compounds did not differ between controls and any grade of astrocytoma when the quantification was done in vitro. It is interesting that phosphorylcholine concentration was about twofold greater in grade IV astrocytomas than in controls or other grades of astrocytomas. We conclude that high phosphorylcholine in grade IV astrocytomas may be an indicator of degree of malignancy. The proportional changes within the group of choline-containing compounds observed in vitro were not reflected in the NMR properties of choline signal in vivo.     

Molecular dynamics of N,N′-di-p-fluorophenyltriazenido complex of platinum (II)

The triazenide complex of Pt(II) trans-(o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂N₃Ar₂(1) (Ar = p-FC₆H₄) was synthesized by reaction of (o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂BF₄ with Ar₂N₃Na. The ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR spectra of this complex in toluene-d₈ were studied at different temperatures. Two kinds of dynamic processes were observed. The first one is the intramolecular N,N′ migration of the (o-Tol)Pt(PEt₃)₂ group, detected by ¹⁹F NMR. The second process, revealed by ¹H, ¹⁹P NMR, is the rotation around the partially double N(2)–N(3) bond. Thermodynamic parameters for these processes were calculated from dynamic NMR spectra.     

Dissolution of [RhCl(PPh3)3] in the ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloroaluminate(III), and its reaction with H2. The stabilization of Rh(I) species in an ionic liquid

The solution of [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] in acidic 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate(III) ionic liquid (AlCl₃ molar fraction, x_AlCl3=0.67) was investigated by ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR. One triphenyl phosphine is lost from the complex and is protonated in the acidic media, and cis-[Rh(PPh₃)₂ClX], (2), where X is probably [AlCl₄]⁻, is formed. On, standing, 2 is converted to trans-[Rh(H)(PPh₃)₂X], (3). The reaction of 2 and H₂ also produces trans-[Rh(H)(PPh₃)₂X], (3). ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR support the suggestion that a weak ligand such as [AlCl₄]⁻, present in solution may interact with the metal centre. When [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] is dissolved in CH₂Cl₂/AlCl₃/HCl for comparison, two exchanging isomers of what is probably [RhH{(μ-Cl)₂AlCl₂}{(μ-Cl)AlCl₃}(PPh₃)₂], (6) and (7), are formed.