Dissecting the theories of lanthanide magnetic resonance

Abstract

The NMR relaxation and chemical shift behaviour of isostructural series of macrocyclic lanthanide(III) complexes has been investigated.
The 1H, 31P and 19F longitudinal relaxation rates of multiple series of lanthanide(III) complexes (Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) have been measured in solution at five magnetic field strengths in the range 4.7 to 16.5 Tesla. The electronic relaxation time, T1e, is a function of both the lanthanide(III) ion and the local ligand field. Analysis of the field-dependent nuclear relaxation rates, based on Solomon-Bloembergen Morgan theory, describing the paramagnetic enhancement of the nuclear relaxation rates, has allowed reliable estimates of the electronic relaxation times, T1e. It has been shown that in systems of high symmetry, the electronic relaxation times are directly proportional to the ligand field and that in some cases changing the ligand field can have a greater effect on the nuclear relaxation rates than lanthanide selection.
The chemical shift data for the series of lanthanide(III) complexes were analysed. The pseudocontact shift of lanthanide(III) complexes is described by Bleaney’s theory of magnetic anisotropy. Most of the assumptions in this theory were shown to be questionable. In particular for systems in low symmetry significant deivations between the experimental chemical shifts and those predicted by theory were found.
The low symmetry systems exhibit crystal field splittings of the same order of magnitude as the spin-orbit coupling. The possibility of a mixing of the electronic energy levels of the lanthanide(III) ion has to be considered. The effect of the coordination environment on the magnetic susceptibility was investigated using a variety of methods. Significant deviation (10 – 20%) from the theoretical values was observed in systems of low symmetry.
These investigations show that paramagnetic relaxation enhancements and magnetic susceptibility are dependent on the ligand field. Applying this knowledge allows the design of more efficient paramagnetic probes, as needed in PARASHIFT magnetic resonance.