A general enhancement scheme in heteronuclear multidimensional NMR employing pulsed field gradients.

General pulse sequence elements that achieve sensitivity-enhanced coherence transfer from a heteronucleus to protons of arbitrary multiplicity are introduced. The building blocks are derived from the sensitivity-enhancement scheme introduced by Cavanagh et al. ((1991) J. Magn. Reson., 91, 429-436), which was used in conjunction with gradient coherence selection by Kay et al. ((1992) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114, 10663-10665), as well as from a multiple-pulse sequence effecting a heteronuclear planar coupling Hamiltonian. The building blocks are incorporated into heteronuclear correlation experiments, in conjunction with coherence selection by the formation of a heteronuclear gradient echo. This allows for efficient water suppression without the need for water presaturation. The methods are demonstrated in HSQC-type experiments on a sample of a decapeptide in H2O. The novel pulse sequence elements can be incorporated into multidimensional experiments.