Multiplets for Spin I = 1/2 Nuclides Coupled to Quadrupolar Nuclides
When a spin
I = 1/2 nuclide is coupled to a qudrupolar nuclide of spin
S, one will observe one of three things: (1) a sharp singlet; (2) a sharp multiplet consisting of
(2NS + 1) lines, where
N is the number of equivalent quadrupolar nuclides or; (3) a broadened signal intermediate between a sharp singlet and a sharp multiplet. An example of a sharp singlet is the proton decoupled 13C spectrum of CHCl3. In this case, the lifetimes for each of the
(2S + 1) Zeeman states of the quadrupolar 35Cl and 37Cl nuclides are much shorter than the reciprocal of the J coupling interaction with the 13C. As a result, the 13C "sees" an average state for the 35Cl and 37Cl nuclides and appears as a sharp singlet (neglecting any
isotope effects). This phenomenon is quite common and is sometimes referred to as "self-decoupling". An example of the a sharp multiplet is the 13C spectrum of CDCl3. In this case, the lifetimes of each of the three Zeeman states of the deuterium are much longer than the reciprocal of the J coupling interaction with the 13C. As a result, the 13C "sees" each of the three Zeeman states of the deuterium and appears as a
1:1:1 triplet. Examples of broadened signals, intermediate between sharp singlets and sharp multiplets are often observed in the signals of 13C bound to 14N (
I = 1 ). In these cases, the lifetimes of the three Zeeman states of the 14N are of the same order as the reciprocal of the J coupling interaction with the 13C. It is very interesting to note that the lifetimes for each of the quadrupolar Zeeman states are not necessarily the same. As a result, for cases where the lifetimes are comparable to the reciprocal of the J coupling interaction, one can observe differential broadening in the lines of the multiplet.
This can be seen for the 13C signals for tetraalkyl ammonium salts or the
1H signal for dilute HDO where, in each case, the outer two lines of the observed triplets are broadened more than the central line such that the intensity (height) of the lines does not appear to be 1:1:1. A more dramatic example is shown in the figure below for the 13C spectrum of K3[Co(CN)6].
For this compound, the lifetimes of the 14N Zeeman states are sufficiently short such that the 14N is self-decoupled from the 13C. The lifetimes of the 59Co (
I = 7/2, 100% naturally abundant) Zeeman states, on the other hand, are comparable (although somewhat longer than) the reciprocal of the J coupling interaction with the 13C. As a result, an eight line multiplet is observed with equal integrals for each of the component lines. In this case, the lifetimes of the eight 59Co Zeeman states are not equal and one can see that lines 2 and 7 of the multplet are the most broadened. Lines 3 and 6 are the second most broadened followed by lines 4 and 5. Lines 1 and 8 are the least broadened and therefore the highest in intensity. The calculation of the relevant lineshapes has been presented in the early (and no so early) literature.1-4
1. J.A. Pople,
Mol. Phys. 1, 168 (1958).
2. J. Bacon, R.J. Gillespie and J.W. Quail.
Can. J. Chem. 41, 3063 (1963).
3. M. Suzuki and R. Kubo,
Mol. Phys. 7, 201 (1964).
4. N.C. Pyper,
Mol. Phys. 19, 161 (1970).
5. P. Kofod,
J. Magn. Res. A. 119, 212 (1996).
Source:
University of Ottawa NMR Facility Blog
Multiplets for Spin I = 1/2 Nuclides Coupled to Quadrupolar Nuclides
Linear Mode
