Pulsed field gradient selection in two-dimensional magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy of dipolar solids.

The utility of gradient selection in MAS spectroscopy of dipolar solids is explored in two examples. In the first, rotor-synchronized gradients of appropriate strength and duration are applied to select 1H double-quantum coherences. The resulting DQ MAS spectrum of adamantane is compared with that acquired by the corresponding phase-cycling technique. As a second example, a 1H 2D exchange MAS experiment is performed on an elastomer sample. In this experiment, a gradient is applied to remove undesired coherences that would otherwise distort the spectrum for short mixing times. The diagonal-peak intensities in the resulting spectrum show a linear decrease with increasing mixing time indicating cross-relaxation by slow chain motions as the relevant process. Both types of experiments demonstrate the potential of gradient-selection techniques for MAS spectroscopy of dipolar solids. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.