A solid azobenzene dyestuff has been studied by a
combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and
15N
CP/MAS NMR. The X-ray work establishes that the crystal structure
of one polymorph is disordered. The
15N NMR proves that this is a temporal, rather than a
spatial, effect. Three 15N-enriched isotopomers
(together
with a second polymorph) were examined by NMR, and assignments
established by rotational resonance.
The shielding tensor components were determined, and the angles of
change between their orientations were
established by a two-dimensional exchange experiment, the theory of
which is discussed. Exchange rates
were measured both by selective polarization inversion and by band
shape analysis. Thermodynamic parameters
for the barrier to exchange are presented. It is demonstrated, by
the combination of X-ray and NMR work,
that the process is essentially a crankshaft motion of the azo
linkage.
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