NMR proton relaxation and chemical exchange in the system H¹⁶₂O/H¹⁷₂O-[²H₆]dimethylsulphoxide

Abstract

NMR proton relaxation rates of normal and ¹⁷O enriched water in a mixture of 68 mol% water and 32 mol% [²H₆]dimethylsulphoxide were measured for temperatures between 298 K and 183 K. In the range between 240 K and 204 K the limit of fast proton-proton exchange between H¹⁶ ₂O and H¹⁷ ₂O is not obeyed, and relaxation curves deviate from mono-exponential behaviour. By fitting the relaxation curves to a model of NMR two-phase relaxation the proton-proton exchange rate within the aqueous component could be obtained. With decreasing temperature, proton-proton exchange slows down and a residence time of about 125 ms at 215 K is found, but it becomes faster again for still lower temperatures. From the phase-averaged relaxation rates of water in the ¹⁷O enriched mixtures, the ¹⁷O induced proton relaxation rate was derived as a function of temperature. This yields the rotational correlation times of the water molecule in the mixture and the dipolar spin-lattice coupling parameter. The latter is considerably lower than the one predicted from the geometry of water.