CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

I. Proton Magnetic Resonance of Polynucleotides and Transfer RNA. II. Electron Spin Relaxation Studies of Manganese (II) Complexes in Acetonitrile

Citation

Crawford, Jane Ellen (1971) I. Proton Magnetic Resonance of Polynucleotides and Transfer RNA. II. Electron Spin Relaxation Studies of Manganese (II) Complexes in Acetonitrile. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/YV85-RX30. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:03072016-134037436

Abstract

Part I. Proton Magnetic Resonance of Polynucleotides and Transfer RNA.

Proton magnetic resonance was used to follow the temperature dependent intramolecular stacking of the bases in the polynucleotides of adenine and cytosine. Analysis of the results on the basis of a two state stacked-unstacked model yielded values of -4.5 kcal/mole and -9.5 kcal/mole for the enthalpies of stacking in polyadenylic and polycytidylic acid, respectively.

The interaction of purine with these molecules was also studied by pmr. Analysis of these results and the comparison of the thermal unstacking of polynucleotides and short chain nucleotides indicates that the bases contained in stacks within the long chain poly nucleotides are, on the average, closer together than the bases contained in stacks in the short chain nucleotides.

Temperature and purine studies were also carried out with an aqueous solution of formylmethionine transfer ribonucleic acid. Comparison of these results with the results of similar experiments with the homopolynucleotides of adenine, cytosine and uracil indicate that the purine is probably intercalating into loop regions of the molecule.

The solvent denaturation of phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid was followed by pmr. In a solvent mixture containing 83 volume per cent dimethylsulf oxide and 17 per cent deuterium oxide, the tRNA molecule is rendered quite flexible. It is possible to resolve resonances of protons on the common bases and on certain modified bases.

Part II. Electron Spin Relaxation Studies of Manganese (II) Complexes in Acetonitrile.

The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of three Mn+2 complexes, [Mn(CH3CN)6]+2, [MnCl4]-2, and [MnBr4]-2, in acetonitrile were studied in detail. The objective of this study was to relate changes in the effective spin Hamiltonian parameters and the resonance line widths to the structure of these molecular complexes as well as to dynamical processes in solution.

Of the three systems studied, the results obtained from the [Mn(CH3CN)6]+2 system were the most straight-forward to interpret. Resonance broadening attributable to manganese spin-spin dipolar interactions was observed as the manganese concentration was increased.

In the [MnCl4]-2 system, solvent fluctuations and dynamical ion-pairing appear to be significant in determining electron spin relaxation.

In the [MnBr4]-2 system, solvent fluctuations, ion-pairing, and Br- ligand exchange provide the principal means of electron spin relaxation. It was also found that the spin relaxation in this system is dependent upon the field strength and is directly related to the manganese concentration. A relaxation theory based on a two state collisional model was developed to account for the observed behavior.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Chemistry
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemistry
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Chan, Sunney I.
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:24 November 1970
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
National Defense and Education Act FellowshipUNSPECIFIED
California State Graduate FellowshipUNSPECIFIED
CaltechUNSPECIFIED
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:03072016-134037436
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:03072016-134037436
DOI:10.7907/YV85-RX30
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:9606
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By:INVALID USER
Deposited On:15 Mar 2016 17:50
Last Modified:02 Aug 2021 22:35

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

50MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page