Jun 25, 2025
Version 2
Spin-1/2 J-Based DQ-SQ Correlation with Cross Polarization V.2
- Alexander L. Paterson1
- 1National Magnetic Resonance Facility at Madison (NMRFAM), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Protocol Citation: Alexander L. Paterson 2025. Spin-1/2 J-Based DQ-SQ Correlation with Cross Polarization. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.e6nvw1bydlmk/v2Version created by NMRFAM Facility
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: June 25, 2025
Last Modified: June 25, 2025
Protocol Integer ID: 221037
Keywords: Spin-1/2 J-Based DQ-SQ Correlation with Cross Polarization, sq correlation with cross polarization purpose, sq correlation with direct polarization, sq correlation, cross polarization, cross polarization purpose, protonated system, direct polarization, bond homonuclear connectivity, inadequate with cross polarization, bond connectivity, spin
Funders Acknowledgements:
National Science Foundation
Grant ID: 1946970
Abstract
Purpose
To observe through-bond homonuclear connectivities in protonated systems.
Scope
This protocol uses refocused INADEQUATE with cross polarization (CP-R-INADEQUATE) to probe through-bond connectivities in spin-1/2 systems. As it uses cross polarization, it is best suited to highly protonated systems. For non-protonated systems, refer to the SOP Spin-1/2 J-Based DQ-SQ Correlation with Direct Polarization.
Guidelines
This protocol probes through-bond connectivities. To probe through-space proximities, a pulse sequence using a different double quantum correlation method needs to be used.
DQ-SQ correlation experiments have sensitivity that is inversely proportional to the natural abundance of the nuclide studied. This is in addition to the factor affecting a standard 1D experiment. DQ-SQ correlation experiments on nuclei with low natural abundance (e.g., 13C, 29Si) can require substantial signal averaging. If practical, isotopic enrichment is recommended and sometimes required.
The pulse sequence used by this protocol has high-power proton decoupling during all delay periods. The user must confirm that the total decoupling period, including the acquisition period and all delays, is less than the allowed value for the probe (typically 50 ms). The maximum evolution time, calculated as 0.5 TD × inf1, should be included in this calculation.
This experiment is rotor synchronized. For long values of τ, actively triggered rotor synchronization is recommended; however, this is outside the scope of this protocol.
Materials
Definitions:
- INADEQUATE: Incredible Natural Abundance DoublE QUAntum Transfer Experiment
- CP: Cross polarization
- DQ-SQ: Double quantum-single-quantum
- FID: Free induction decay
Appendix:
Spinning sidebands can appear in both the single-quantum (MAS) dimension and double-quantum dimension. The user should take care to not assign spinning sidebands as real correlations.
Safety warnings
The pulse sequence used by this protocol has high-power proton decoupling during all delay periods. The user must confirm that the total decoupling period, including the acquisition period and all delays, is less than the allowed value for the probe (typically 50 ms). The maximum evolution time, calculated as 0.5 TD × inf1, should be included in this calculation.
Before start
User should be familiar with the power, duty cycle, and decoupling limits of the probe.
User must ensure that the total decoupling period, including all delays, the maximum evolution time, and the acquisition period, is less than the high-power decoupling limit of the probe.
Expected amount of time SOP will use: 1 day
Procedure
Load the cp_R-INADEQUATE.nmrfam pulse program.
Set values for the acquisition of an initial spectrum.
Set the number of scans, ns, to a multiple of 32.
Set the recycle delay d1 to 1.3 × T1(1H), as previously measured.
Set the 1H 90° pulse length, p3, and pulse power, plw12, as previously optimized.
Set the X channel 90° pulse length, p1, and pulse power, plw11, as previously optimized.
Set the X channel CP contact time, p15, and pulse power, plw1, as previously optimized.
Set the H channel CP pulse power, spw0, and pulse shape, spnam0, as previously optimized.
If used, set the decoupling program, cpdprg2, and pulse length, pcpd2¸to previously optimized values.
Note
Note that the decoupling power uses plw12, the same power as the 1H 90° pulse length.
Set the spinning speed cnst31 to the MAS frequency in Hz.
Set the acquisition time, aq, to the shortest time that captures the full FID.
Set the number of rotor periods for J refocusing, l5, such that the J refocusing period, dtau, is calculated to be a reasonable value.
- This should be about
, where J is the J-coupling of interest. Note that there is a null point at , and so the value of dtau may need to be adjusted if no signal is observed. - A reasonable starting point for optimizing the delay for 13C 1J couplings is 2 ms.
Set the number of rotor periods for the z-filter, l8, such that the z-filter period, dtauz, is calculated to be a reasonable value. At this point 1H decoupling during the z-filter is not applied unless the -Dzdec flag is set in zgoptns.
- For systems with high isotopic abundance, a reasonable starting value is 2.5 ms.
- For systems with low isotopic abundance, this can be 1–3 rotor periods.
Acquire an initial 1D spectrum.
Optimize the number of rotor periods for J refocusing, l5, such that all peaks have adequate intensity.
Note
Note that different environments in the same sample can have different J-coupling values, and so a compromise value that provides adequate, but not optimal, intensity will likely need to be used.
Adjust the z-filter settings based on the chemistry of the sample under investigation to minimize anti-phase contributions.
Safety information
In all cases, if the -Dzdec flag is set, ensure that the experiment still obeys the high-power decoupling limits of the probe.
If the system has weak proton coupling, a long z-filter (large l8) without 1H decoupling (no -Dzdec) can be used, assuming that there is sufficient intensity observed with a given l8.
If the system has strong proton coupling and low isotopic abundance, a short z-filter (small l8) with 1H
decoupling (-Dzdec) can be used.
If the system has strong proton coupling and high isotopic abundance, a moderate z-filter (l8 set such that dtauz is between 1 ms and 5 ms) without 1H decoupling (no -Dzdec) may be effective, but risks the introduction of proton-driven spin diffusion.
In all cases, antiphase contributions will be more apparent in systems with narrow linewidths.
Once l5 and l8 are adjusted, convert the experiment to a 2D experiment. Set the following 2D parameters:
FnMODE: States, TPPI, or States-TPPI.
1 TD: To an appropriate value given the required resolution and T2 of the samples. Ensure that 1 TD is low enough that the high-power decoupling limit is observed.
F1 SWH: An integer multiple of the rotor spinning speed in Hz. Set this value such that the sum of the frequencies of the highest expected connectivity will be included. For 13C, 50 kHz to 100 kHz are reasonable starting points.
Ensure that the total high-power decoupling time (4 × dtau + aq (F2) + aq(F1) + dtauz (if -Dzdec is set)) is within the acceptable limit of the probe (typically 50 ms).
Acquire the 2D spectrum.
To reference the DQ axis, observe a correlation between two peaks with well-determined chemical shifts; the position of this correlation in F1 is the sum of the shifts in F2.
Protocol references
Lesage, A.; Bardet, M.; Emsley, L. Through-Bond Carbon−Carbon Connectivities in Disordered Solids by NMR. Journal of the American Chemical Society 1999, 121 (47), 10987-10993. DOI: 10.1021/ja992272b.
Cadars, S.; Sein, J.; Duma, L.; Lesage, A.; Pham, T. N.; Baltisberger, J. H.; Brown, S. P.; Emsley, L. The refocused INADEQUATE MAS NMR experiment in multiple spin-systems: interpreting observed correlation peaks and optimising lineshapes. J Magn Reson 2007, 188 (1), 24-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2007.05.016.
Example Data at 1.1 GHz: usnan.org/ark:/83454/e14ebc40f4-e2aa-465f-a01d-01bb74835c82
Example Data at 900 MHz: usnan.org/ark:/83454/e14ed6aa7f-0064-48f2-a967-cc74b19b8862
Example Data at 600 MHz: usnan.org/ark:/83454/e17f4be712-30ec-4ed7-9715-e06f57807e50