Quantum molecular dynamics of guest molecules in supramolecular complexes

The quantum motion of guest molecules has been studied in a variety of calixarene host-guest complexes, and in a endohedral fullerene complex. The guest molecules of the calixarene complexes studied each comprise weakly hindered methyl groups, which undergo rotation via quantum tunnelling, even at cryogenic temperatures. The rotational motion of the guest methyl-groups has been studied by making temperature and frequency-dependent measurements of proton T1, using field-cycling NMR, thus revealing the spectral density functions of the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction. Crystallographically inequivalent methyl-group environments have been identified and characterised in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)toluene, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)gamma-picoline and p-isopropylcalix[4]arene(2:1)p-xylene. In many of the calixarene complexes the proton spin-lattice relaxation has been observed to be strongly dependent on the thermal history of the sample. Temperature-dependent measurements of proton T1 in samples of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)toluene with partially deuterated guest molecules reveal a systematic reduction in T1 at low temperatures with increased degree of deuteration. Calixarene and fullerene host-guest complexes have been identified as having a potential application in cryogenic MAS-NMR as cryorelaxor complexes, capable of being attached to a large biomolecule and encouraging proton spin-lattice relaxation. The suitability of the calixarene complexes for use in this capacity has been investigated by measuring the temperature-dependence of proton T1 at low temperatures. The quantised rotational and translational motion of dihydrogen confined within an open-cage fullerene—namely, aza-thio-open-cage-fullerene (ATOCF)—has been revealed by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. The splitting of excited rotational and translational states, due to the low symmetry of the ellipsoidal fullerene cavity, has been directly measured. Assignment of the peaks observed in the INS spectrum has been aided by analysis of the Q-dependence of excitation bands. The thermodynamics of ortho- and parahydryogen have been investigated via temperature dependence measurements. INS measurements have allowed the anistropic rotational potential experienced by the H2 rotor to be determined

Quantum molecular dynamics of guest molecules in supramolecular complexes

The quantum motion of guest molecules has been studied in a variety of calixarene host-guest complexes, and in a endohedral fullerene complex. The guest molecules of the calixarene complexes studied each comprise weakly hindered methyl groups, which undergo rotation via quantum tunnelling, even at cryogenic temperatures. The rotational motion of the guest methyl-groups has been studied by making temperature and frequency-dependent measurements of proton T1, using field-cycling NMR, thus revealing the spectral density functions of the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction. Crystallographically inequivalent methyl-group environments have been identified and characterised in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)toluene, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)gamma-picoline and p-isopropylcalix[4]arene(2:1)p-xylene. In many of the calixarene complexes the proton spin-lattice relaxation has been observed to be strongly dependent on the thermal history of the sample. Temperature-dependent measurements of proton T1 in samples of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene(1:1)toluene with partially deuterated guest molecules reveal a systematic reduction in T1 at low temperatures with increased degree of deuteration. Calixarene and fullerene host-guest complexes have been identified as having a potential application in cryogenic MAS-NMR as cryorelaxor complexes, capable of being attached to a large biomolecule and encouraging proton spin-lattice relaxation. The suitability of the calixarene complexes for use in this capacity has been investigated by measuring the temperature-dependence of proton T1 at low temperatures. The quantised rotational and translational motion of dihydrogen confined within an open-cage fullerene—namely, aza-thio-open-cage-fullerene (ATOCF)—has been revealed by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements. The splitting of excited rotational and translational states, due to the low symmetry of the ellipsoidal fullerene cavity, has been directly measured. Assignment of the peaks observed in the INS spectrum has been aided by analysis of the Q-dependence of excitation bands. The thermodynamics of ortho- and parahydryogen have been investigated via temperature dependence measurements. INS measurements have allowed the anistropic rotational potential experienced by the H2 rotor to be determined

Alveolarization continues during childhood and adolescence: new evidence from helium-3 magnetic resonance

The current hypothesis that human pulmonary alveolarization is complete by 3 years is contradicted by new evidence of alveolarization throughout adolescence in mammals

Implication of Water Molecules at the Silica – Ibuprofen Interface in Silica-Based Drug Delivery Systems Obtained through Incipient Wetness Impregnation

International audienceThe dynamical behavior of ibuprofen or benzoic acid (model molecule of ibuprofen) encapsulated in mesoporous silica is very specific as a very high mobility is evidenced at ambient temperature due to the existence of confinement effect. In this contribution, we demonstrate through variable temperature 1H MAS NMR experiments that this specific dynamical behavior is also related to a fast chemical exchange that takes place between protons of the COOH group of the organic molecule and protons from water molecules at the surface of the silica for materials obtained through incipient wetness impregnation. This phenomenon implies a weak interaction between the guest molecule and the silica surface that is related to the fast release profile of encapsulated ibuprofen observed in vitro

Probing the mobility of ibuprofen confined in MCM-41 materials using MAS-PFG NMR and hyperpolarised-Xe-129 NMR spectroscopy

International audienceThe continuous-flow hyperpolarised (HP)-Xe-129 NMR and magic angle spinning-pulsed field gradient (MAS-PFG) NMR techniques have been used for the first time to study the distribution and the dynamics of ibuprofen encapsulated in MCM-41 with two different pore diameters