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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Combined theoretical and experimental studies of proton migration and transfer in the solid state

Silva Martins, David Manuel January 2008 (has links)
Hydrogen bonds are of great interest in the solid state due to their importance in structural, functional and dynamical properties of chemical systems. Moderate hydrogen bonds have been linked with proton transfer, whereas the short, strong hydrogen bonds enable proton migration. Previous work in our group on relatively simple hydrogen bonded adducts relied on the combination of ab initio computational modelling (molecular dynamics) with variable temperature diffraction results (X-ray and neutron). These demonstrated that the interplay of these techniques was successful in studying the phenomena of proton transfer and migration. The present work follows on from that, and focuses on the effects of temperature and pressure on proton transfer and migration using both experimental and computational methods. The systems studied continue to encapsulate adducts with N…O and O…O hydrogen bonds. The study of the adduct formed between squaric acid and 4,4’-bipyridine was found to exhibit proton transfer associated with a single-crystal to single-crystal phase transition at 450 K that is coupled to a colour change (yellow to red). X-ray and neutron diffraction initially revealed the heavy atom structure and secondly the location of the hydrogen atoms along the moderate N…O hydrogen bond (ca. 2.6 Å). Computational modelling supported this and deduced the reason for the striking colour change. Pressure studies also determined that the adduct underwent two phase-transitions with a similar colour change, indicating that proton transfer is also a factor here, but with powder patterns different from the high temperature form, indicating that further polymorphs for this interesting system must exist. In an attempt to lower the temperature at which proton transfer would occur the base was changed to one of a more basic nature, i.e. co-crystallisation of squaric acid and 2,2’-dimethyl–4,4’-bipyridine was pursued. This lead to the formation of two red crystals that were found to posses the base doubly protonated at all temperatures studied (from 300 K to 100 K). The adduct of N,N-dimethylurea with phosphoric acid was obtained from a systematic study designed to follow the success of a previously reported system that showed proton migration (the adduct of urea and phosphoric acid). The new material was found to crystallise as the 2:1 adduct and maintained the short, strong hydrogen bonds characteristic of the parent structure. As part of the systematic approach undertaken throughout the research presented here, co-crystallisation of a combination of acids and bases were attempted in order to synthesise new materials containing short, strong hydrogen bonds. These yielded the adducts between oxalic acid and 2,2’-dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridine, and oxamic acid and 4,4’-bipyridine. In addition to these adducts some compounds ended up reacting to create new ones, e.g. the fusing of dimethyl urea and squaric acid to give N-(2-hydroxycyclobutene-3,4-dione)-N’,N’-dimethylurea and N-(2- hydroxycyclobutene-3,4-dione)-N,N'-dimethylurea, while a new polymorphs of one of the precursors on its own was also obtained (N,N’-dimethylurea). The resulting co-crystallisations did not all follow the design quite as intended. They did, however, yield interesting new structures, some of which have the potential to be proton migration and transfer systems.
2

An Experimental Study to Measure And Improve the Grout Penetrability

Nejad Ghafar, Ali January 2016 (has links)
An essential demand in any underground facility is to seal it against the water ingress to reduce the time and cost of the construction and the corresponding environmental hazards. To achieve this, obtaining sufficient grout spread is of great importance. Among the grouts, cement grouts with lower costs and environmental issues have been more reliable, whereas their main problem is filtration that restricts the grout spread. Several investigations have been therefore aimed to develop instruments to measure the grout penetrability as a fundamental means to improve the grout spread. Due to the difference in assumptions, limitations, and test conditions, and the deficiency in design their results are occasionally in contradiction. The question here is how to measure the grout penetrability more realistic? To answer this, two of the most frequently used instruments, Filter pump and Penetrability meter, were adjusted to approach the test conditions in Short slot. The results were discussed with respect to the origins of contradictions to better evaluate the reliability and functionality of the instruments. Among the influencing parameters on grout spread, applied pressure is a key element. The stepwise pressure increment is the method currently used to improve the grout spread in rock. Application of dynamic grouting has been studied as a solution to improve the grout spread for almost three decades. Despite some promising results, the method has not been yet industrialized due to the limited efficiency and issues in the type and frequency of the applied pressure, and the geometry of the test equipment. Therefore, finding a more efficient alternative of the applied pressure was the second goal of this study. A pneumatic pressure control system was consequently employed to examine the efficiency of the method in Short slot. The results conclusively revealed the effectiveness of the method and provided a strong basis for further development of the dynamic grouting. / Ett viktigt krav när man bygger under mark är att konstruktionen blir tillräckligt tät, så att inläckage av grundvatten minimeras. Detta minskar både projektkostnaden och eventuell miljöpåverkan. För att skapa en tät konstruktion måste injekteringsbruket spridas tillräckligt i bergmassan. Kemiska injekteringsmedel har ofta bättre spridning i bergmassan än cementbaserade bruk, men cementbaserade bruk är både billigare och ger mindre miljöpåverkan. Det finns dock en del problem med cementbaserade bruk, nämligen att cementpartiklarna filtreras och att brukets reologiska egenskaper begränsar brukets utbredning. Ett antal studier har därför utförts för att studera dessa egenskaper hos cementbaserade bruk och utveckla metoder och instrument för att mäta brukets inträngningsförmåga. Detta i syfte att förbättra brukets utbredning. Dagens metoder och instrument ger nämligen ibland motsägelsefulla resultat på grund av de olika antaganden, begränsningar och förutsättningar som används i de olika testerna. Huvudfrågan är alltså hur man kan mäta brukets inträngningsförmåga på ett mer realistiskt sätt. För att undersöka detta modifierades två vanliga mätinstrument – filterpumpen och filterpressen – för att passa förhållandena i testanordningen Short slot. Resultaten diskuterades med avseende på olika typer av skillnader mellan metoderna i syfte att utröna dels vad som påverkar inträngningsförmågan, dels instrumentens tillförlitlighet och funktionalitet. Bland de parametrar som påverkar brukets spridning i bergmassan har injekteringstrycket en central roll. I dagsläget används stegvis tryckökning för att förbättra brukets spridning i sprickigt, hårt berg. Hur man kan använda dynamisk injektering för att förbättra brukets spridning har dock undersökts under snart tre decennier. Trots lovande resultat av denna metod ännu inte börjat användas i praktiken. Ett problem är svårigheten att ta försök på labb till fältmässiga förhållanden. Ett exempel är att man använde ett tryck som varierade med hög frekvens i en spricka som modellerades med två parallella skivor utan förträngningar, vilket är mycket annorlunda jämförelse med en riktig bergspricka. I modellen blir nämligen brukets spridning starkt beroende av brukets reologiska egenskaper, medan det snarare är filtrering som är problemet i en naturlig spricka på grund av förträngningarna. Dessutom fokuserade tidigare studier endast på sprickor med en sprickvidd större än 100 μm, trots att god spridning av bruket även i de smala sprickorna med mindre än 70 μm bredd är mycket viktigt när det är höga krav på anläggningens täthet. Ett annat mål med denna licentiatuppsats var därför att hitta nya sätt att förbättra brukets spridning i berget. Därför övervakades trycket med ett pneumatiskt kontrollsystem vid tester i Short slot för att studera hur effektiv denna metod är under mer realistiska förhållanden med förträngningar på mindre än 70 μm. Resultaten visade att metoden är effektiv, vilket utgör en bra bas för att fortsätta utveckla dynamisk injektering. / <p>QC 20160413</p>
3

Spectroscopie de luminescence à température et pression variables pour des complexes des lanthanides et de l'or

Intissar, Mourad 11 1900 (has links)
Ce travail est axé vers la compréhension détaillée des propriétés de luminescence de composés de certains métaux lourds. La première partie de ce mémoire décrit la caractérisation spectroscopique d'un radical de type nitronyle nitroxyde, 2-(2-pyridinyl)-4,4,5,5-tétraméthyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-oxyl-3-oxyde, abrégé (NIT2-Py), et de ses complexes avec les cations Tb(III), [Tb(hfac)3NIT2-Py], et Y(III), [Y(hfac)3NIT2-Py]. La variation de la température affecte les spectres de luminescence qui montrent de la structure vibronique résolue. Les maxima de ces transitions vibroniques se rapprochent au fur et à mesure que la température augmente. Ces variations des maxima en fonction de la température ne correspondent pas à des variations de fréquences vibrationnelles et sont de l'ordre de 200 cm-1 entre 80 K et 240 K. La variation de la température n'a pas d'influence significative sur la structure moléculaire, comme atteste la variation mineure des maxima des spectres Raman entre 80 K et 300 K. La comparaison des spectres expérimentaux à des spectres calculés montre que ces variations peuvent être reproduites par l'utilisation d'une combinaison de fréquences vibrationnelles. Le paramètre dont la variation est très significative est la résolution du spectre de luminescence, représentée par la largeur à mi-hauteur des transitions vibroniques qui forment le spectre de luminescence. La deuxième partie de ce mémoire décrit les propriétés de luminescence d'une série de complexes d’or(I). Elles sont comparées aux changements structuraux à pression et température variable. Les interactions aurophiles ont une grande influence sur la luminescence. La variation de la température et de la pression est une approche efficace pour varier la luminescence. Les effets observés dans les spectres d'émission de ces complexes dépendent des changements de structure induits par variation de la température et de la pression. Ces petites variations structurales mènent à des changements importants, à titre d'exemple à un déplacement du maximum de la bande de luminescence de 60 cm-1/ kbar vers les faibles énergies pour un des complexes de l'or(I) étudiés au cours de ce projet. / The overall goal of this work is to contribute to the understanding of luminescence properties of transition metal compounds. The first part of this thesis describes the spectroscopic characterization of a pyridine-substituted nitronyl nitroxyde radical 2-(2-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-3-oxide-1-oxyl abbreviated (NIT2-Py) and its complexes with Tb(III) and Y(III), [Tb(hfac)3NIT2-Py] and [Y(hfac)3NIT2-Py], respectively. Their luminescence spectrum show resolved vibronic structure and variations with temperature The energy difference between vibronic luminescence maxima decreases with increasing temperature. This decrease is on the order of 200 cm-1 between 80 K and 240 K and is not due to decreasing Raman frequencies. The variations of temperature do not have a significant influence on the molecular structures, as illustrated by the very small variation of Raman maxima between 80 K and 300 K. Luminescence spectra were calculated using the time dependent theory of spectroscopy. Calculated luminescence spectra show that the variations with temperature are reproduced by using specific combinations of experimental frequencies and by adjusting the width of the vibronic transitions, determining the resolution of the luminescence spectrum. The second part of the thesis describes the luminescence spectroscopic properties of a series of trimetallic gold(I) complexes at variable temperature and pressure. Aurophilic interactions are very important for these compounds and influence the luminescence spectra. The spectroscopic features are compared to structural changes at variable temperature and pressure. Even small changes in structure lead to significant changes in luminescence, for example a shift of the maximum of the luminescence band by 60 cm-1/ kbar to lower energy for one of the gold(I) complexes studied.
4

Spectroscopie Raman de complexes de fer(II) et fer(III) à transition de spin

Rollet, Frédéric-Guillaume 06 1900 (has links)
Les transitions de spin provoquent des changements de propriétés physiques des complexes de métaux du bloc d les subissant, notamment de leur structure et propriétés spectroscopiques. Ce mémoire porte sur la spectroscopie Raman de composés du fer(II) et du fer(III), pour lesquels on induit une transition de spin par variation de la température ou de la pression. Trois complexes de fer(II) de type FeN4(NCS)2 avec des comportements de transition de spin différents ont été étudiés : Fe(Phen)2(NCS)2 (Phen : 1,10-Phénanthroline), Fe(Btz)2(NCS)2 (Btz : 2,2’-bi-4,5-dihydrothiazine) et Fe(pyridine)4(NCS)2. Un décalage de l’ordre de 50 cm-1 est observable pour la fréquence d’étirement C-N du ligand thiocyanate des complexes FeN4(NCS)2, lors de la transition de spin induite par variation de la température ou de la pression. Il est possible d’utiliser cette variation de fréquence afin de tracer un profil de transition. Quatre complexes isomères de type FeL222(CN)2 (L222 : 2,13- diméthyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]-octadéca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaène) ont également été étudiés. Un taux de décalage de l’ordre d’environ 0,03 cm-1/K est observé pour plusieurs bandes du complexe FeL222(CN)2. La bande à 1415 cm-1 disparaît à plus haute température au profit d’une bande à 1400 cm-1. Pour le complexe de chiralité R,R’, les bandes à 1008 cm-1 et 1140 cm-1 se déplacent vers des fréquences plus élevées à partir de 223 K. Les transitions de spin sont observées dans certains complexes de fer(III). Dans cette famille de composés, le complexe Fe(EtDTC)3 (EtDTC : N,N-diéthyldithiocarbamate) a été étudié . Aucun changement n’a été observé dans l’intensité des bandes d’étirement fer-soufre sur les spectres à température variable. Cependant, la bande Fe-S associée à la forme bas-spin à 530 cm-1 augmente en intensité au profit de la bande associée à la forme haut-spin à 350 cm-1 lors des mesures à haute pression, passant d’un rapport d’amplitude de 50% à pression ambiante à 80% à 21 kbar. Un dédoublement de la bande d’étirement C-N du ligand dithiocarbamate à 1495 cm-1 est également observé à des pressions supérieures à 5 kbar. Une comparaison des changements des fréquences de vibration de tous les complexes est effectuée. / AbstractSpin crossover processes lead to significant changes of molecular structures and spectroscopic properties measured for complexes of d-block transition metals. This thesis focuses on vibrational Raman spectroscopy of iron(II) and iron(III) compounds with spin transitions induced through temperature and pressure variations. Three iron(II) complexes of type FeN4(NCS)2 with different spin transition patterns have been studied: Fe(Phen)2(NCS)2 (Phen : 1,10-Phenanthroline), Fe(Btz)2(NCS)2 (Btz : 2,2’-bi-4,5- dihydrothiazine) and Fe(pyridine)4(NCS)2. A 50 cm-1 shift has been found for the C-N stretching frequency of the thiocyanate ligand in these compounds as a consequence of the spin transition induced by temperature or pressure. These frequency variations have been used to trace different transition profiles. Four different isomers of FeL222(CN)2 (L222 : [2,13-dimethyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]-octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16- pentaene]) type complexes have also been studied. A variation with temperature of approximately 0,03 cm-1/K has been observed for a few bands for the FeL222(CN)2 complex. A band at 1415 cm-1 decreases in intensity in favour of a band at 1400 cm-1 as temperature rises. The bands at 1008 cm-1 and 1140 cm-1 for the complex of R,R’ configuration shift to higher frequencies around 223 K. Spin transitions have also been investigated in some iron(III) complexes. In this family of compounds, the Fe(EtDTC)3 (EtDTC : N,N-diéthyldithiocarbamate) complex has been studied. No change has been observed in the intensity of the iron-sulphur stretching bands in spectra measured at variable temperature. However, at high pressure the low-spin Fe-S band at 530 cm-1 gains intensity compared to the high spin band at 350 cm-1. A splitting of the C-N stretching band of the dithiocarbamate ligand at 1495 cm-1 is observed at pressures above 5 kbar. A comparison of all changes in vibrational spectra is presented.
5

Spectroscopie de luminescence à température et pression variables pour des complexes des lanthanides et de l'or

Intissar, Mourad 11 1900 (has links)
Ce travail est axé vers la compréhension détaillée des propriétés de luminescence de composés de certains métaux lourds. La première partie de ce mémoire décrit la caractérisation spectroscopique d'un radical de type nitronyle nitroxyde, 2-(2-pyridinyl)-4,4,5,5-tétraméthyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-oxyl-3-oxyde, abrégé (NIT2-Py), et de ses complexes avec les cations Tb(III), [Tb(hfac)3NIT2-Py], et Y(III), [Y(hfac)3NIT2-Py]. La variation de la température affecte les spectres de luminescence qui montrent de la structure vibronique résolue. Les maxima de ces transitions vibroniques se rapprochent au fur et à mesure que la température augmente. Ces variations des maxima en fonction de la température ne correspondent pas à des variations de fréquences vibrationnelles et sont de l'ordre de 200 cm-1 entre 80 K et 240 K. La variation de la température n'a pas d'influence significative sur la structure moléculaire, comme atteste la variation mineure des maxima des spectres Raman entre 80 K et 300 K. La comparaison des spectres expérimentaux à des spectres calculés montre que ces variations peuvent être reproduites par l'utilisation d'une combinaison de fréquences vibrationnelles. Le paramètre dont la variation est très significative est la résolution du spectre de luminescence, représentée par la largeur à mi-hauteur des transitions vibroniques qui forment le spectre de luminescence. La deuxième partie de ce mémoire décrit les propriétés de luminescence d'une série de complexes d’or(I). Elles sont comparées aux changements structuraux à pression et température variable. Les interactions aurophiles ont une grande influence sur la luminescence. La variation de la température et de la pression est une approche efficace pour varier la luminescence. Les effets observés dans les spectres d'émission de ces complexes dépendent des changements de structure induits par variation de la température et de la pression. Ces petites variations structurales mènent à des changements importants, à titre d'exemple à un déplacement du maximum de la bande de luminescence de 60 cm-1/ kbar vers les faibles énergies pour un des complexes de l'or(I) étudiés au cours de ce projet. / The overall goal of this work is to contribute to the understanding of luminescence properties of transition metal compounds. The first part of this thesis describes the spectroscopic characterization of a pyridine-substituted nitronyl nitroxyde radical 2-(2-pyridyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-3-oxide-1-oxyl abbreviated (NIT2-Py) and its complexes with Tb(III) and Y(III), [Tb(hfac)3NIT2-Py] and [Y(hfac)3NIT2-Py], respectively. Their luminescence spectrum show resolved vibronic structure and variations with temperature The energy difference between vibronic luminescence maxima decreases with increasing temperature. This decrease is on the order of 200 cm-1 between 80 K and 240 K and is not due to decreasing Raman frequencies. The variations of temperature do not have a significant influence on the molecular structures, as illustrated by the very small variation of Raman maxima between 80 K and 300 K. Luminescence spectra were calculated using the time dependent theory of spectroscopy. Calculated luminescence spectra show that the variations with temperature are reproduced by using specific combinations of experimental frequencies and by adjusting the width of the vibronic transitions, determining the resolution of the luminescence spectrum. The second part of the thesis describes the luminescence spectroscopic properties of a series of trimetallic gold(I) complexes at variable temperature and pressure. Aurophilic interactions are very important for these compounds and influence the luminescence spectra. The spectroscopic features are compared to structural changes at variable temperature and pressure. Even small changes in structure lead to significant changes in luminescence, for example a shift of the maximum of the luminescence band by 60 cm-1/ kbar to lower energy for one of the gold(I) complexes studied.
6

Spectroscopie Raman de complexes de fer(II) et fer(III) à transition de spin

Rollet, Frédéric-Guillaume 06 1900 (has links)
Les transitions de spin provoquent des changements de propriétés physiques des complexes de métaux du bloc d les subissant, notamment de leur structure et propriétés spectroscopiques. Ce mémoire porte sur la spectroscopie Raman de composés du fer(II) et du fer(III), pour lesquels on induit une transition de spin par variation de la température ou de la pression. Trois complexes de fer(II) de type FeN4(NCS)2 avec des comportements de transition de spin différents ont été étudiés : Fe(Phen)2(NCS)2 (Phen : 1,10-Phénanthroline), Fe(Btz)2(NCS)2 (Btz : 2,2’-bi-4,5-dihydrothiazine) et Fe(pyridine)4(NCS)2. Un décalage de l’ordre de 50 cm-1 est observable pour la fréquence d’étirement C-N du ligand thiocyanate des complexes FeN4(NCS)2, lors de la transition de spin induite par variation de la température ou de la pression. Il est possible d’utiliser cette variation de fréquence afin de tracer un profil de transition. Quatre complexes isomères de type FeL222(CN)2 (L222 : 2,13- diméthyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]-octadéca-1(18),2,12,14,16-pentaène) ont également été étudiés. Un taux de décalage de l’ordre d’environ 0,03 cm-1/K est observé pour plusieurs bandes du complexe FeL222(CN)2. La bande à 1415 cm-1 disparaît à plus haute température au profit d’une bande à 1400 cm-1. Pour le complexe de chiralité R,R’, les bandes à 1008 cm-1 et 1140 cm-1 se déplacent vers des fréquences plus élevées à partir de 223 K. Les transitions de spin sont observées dans certains complexes de fer(III). Dans cette famille de composés, le complexe Fe(EtDTC)3 (EtDTC : N,N-diéthyldithiocarbamate) a été étudié . Aucun changement n’a été observé dans l’intensité des bandes d’étirement fer-soufre sur les spectres à température variable. Cependant, la bande Fe-S associée à la forme bas-spin à 530 cm-1 augmente en intensité au profit de la bande associée à la forme haut-spin à 350 cm-1 lors des mesures à haute pression, passant d’un rapport d’amplitude de 50% à pression ambiante à 80% à 21 kbar. Un dédoublement de la bande d’étirement C-N du ligand dithiocarbamate à 1495 cm-1 est également observé à des pressions supérieures à 5 kbar. Une comparaison des changements des fréquences de vibration de tous les complexes est effectuée. / AbstractSpin crossover processes lead to significant changes of molecular structures and spectroscopic properties measured for complexes of d-block transition metals. This thesis focuses on vibrational Raman spectroscopy of iron(II) and iron(III) compounds with spin transitions induced through temperature and pressure variations. Three iron(II) complexes of type FeN4(NCS)2 with different spin transition patterns have been studied: Fe(Phen)2(NCS)2 (Phen : 1,10-Phenanthroline), Fe(Btz)2(NCS)2 (Btz : 2,2’-bi-4,5- dihydrothiazine) and Fe(pyridine)4(NCS)2. A 50 cm-1 shift has been found for the C-N stretching frequency of the thiocyanate ligand in these compounds as a consequence of the spin transition induced by temperature or pressure. These frequency variations have been used to trace different transition profiles. Four different isomers of FeL222(CN)2 (L222 : [2,13-dimethyl-6,9-dioxa-3,12,18-triazabicyclo[12.3.1]-octadeca-1(18),2,12,14,16- pentaene]) type complexes have also been studied. A variation with temperature of approximately 0,03 cm-1/K has been observed for a few bands for the FeL222(CN)2 complex. A band at 1415 cm-1 decreases in intensity in favour of a band at 1400 cm-1 as temperature rises. The bands at 1008 cm-1 and 1140 cm-1 for the complex of R,R’ configuration shift to higher frequencies around 223 K. Spin transitions have also been investigated in some iron(III) complexes. In this family of compounds, the Fe(EtDTC)3 (EtDTC : N,N-diéthyldithiocarbamate) complex has been studied. No change has been observed in the intensity of the iron-sulphur stretching bands in spectra measured at variable temperature. However, at high pressure the low-spin Fe-S band at 530 cm-1 gains intensity compared to the high spin band at 350 cm-1. A splitting of the C-N stretching band of the dithiocarbamate ligand at 1495 cm-1 is observed at pressures above 5 kbar. A comparison of all changes in vibrational spectra is presented.
7

Spectroscopie de luminescence et Raman de matériaux moléculaires cristallins et modélisation par la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité

Bélanger Desmarais, Nicolas 08 1900 (has links)
No description available.
8

Luminescence de complexes plan-carrés de nickel(II), palladium(II) et platine(II): une histoire d’interactions intermoléculaires, de pression et de température variable

Poirier, Stéphanie 01 1900 (has links)
No description available.
9

Variable pressure NMR analyses to assess compressive motion in PETNR and catalytically germane PETNR:Ligand complexes

Guerriero, Andrew January 2012 (has links)
The involvement of dynamical fluctuations in driving enzymatic processes is widely accepted. With respect to NQM tunnelling enzymes, the role of promoting motions in facilitating hydrogenic transfers is well studied. Few studies have however, specifically attributed, dedicated dynamical fluctuations characterised by their timescales and magnitudes, as a function of a reaction coordinate, to specific groups in a protein system. An effectively full suite of backbone resonance assignments were obtained for PETNR and on relevant ligand complexes. This provided an essential platform on which residue specific, backbone amide fluctuations were assessed. This thesis documents the application of pressure up to 1500 bar, in tandem with high resolution TROSY based NMR analysis, as a means of studying residue specific, conformer exchange perturbations. Residue specific amide compression profiles of the PETNR:FMN free enzyme system, and complexes with progesterone and tetrahydropyridine dinucleotides have been obtained. The binding of progesterone appears to induce conformational tightening of residues within the active site vicinity. The complexation of PETNR:FMN with tetrahydropyridine dinucleotides, appears to stimulate conformational shifts towards intermediate, and in some cases, slow exchange regimes in multiple residues about the active site vicinity. This is evidenced by extensive intensity attenuation of 1H-15N TROSY resonances, on the binding of tetrahydropyridine dinucleotides at 1 bar pressure, and on going from 1 bar to 1500 bar pressure. Multiple regions of sequence, spatially clustering about the active site vicinity within a 10 Å sphere of the FMN binding pocket, display appreciable sensitivity to ligand binding. Differential responses of residues to the application of high pressure between complexes was noted within segments of these regions. A region of sequence, named the β-hairpin flap displays significant differential compression profiles between the PETNR:FMN free enzyme system, and associated progesterone and tetrahydropyridine dinucleotide complexes. A role in mediating ligand engagement is proposed for R130 and R142 in the β-hairpin flap. A central hydrogen bonding network, perhaps constituting a putative proton wire in the active site of the PETNR:FMN:Progesterone complex, has been identified that could enable the shuttling of protons following catalytic protonation of oxidative substrate. The resonance response behaviour of G185 acts as a sensitive reporter on the formation of these interactions, revealed by an interrogation of the differences in chemical shift changes on progesterone binding, and in response to high pressure. The recruitment of high resolution crystallographic data sets readily supported a structural and dynamical interpretation of the observed chemical shift responses to ligand binding at 1 bar pressure, and on the application high pressure. A definitive atomistic identification of fast motion contribution to activation barrier compression was not obtained. Nevertheless, detailed, residue specific amide compression profiles, and shifts in backbone amide conformational exchange regimes in response to ground state ligand binding, and at high pressure, have been catalogued in the PETNR:FMN free enzyme system. These dynamical profiles in the free enzyme are contrasted against comparative, residue specific observations in analogue complexes of the oxidative and reductive half reactions of PETNR.

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