We demonstrate a host–guest molecular recognition approach to advance double electron–electron resonance (DEER) distance measurements of spin-labeled proteins. We synthesized an iodoacetamide derivative of 2,6-diazaadamantane nitroxide (DZD) spin label that could be doubly incorporated into T4 Lysozyme (T4L) by site-directed spin labeling with efficiency up to 50% per cysteine. The rigidity of the fused ring structure and absence of mobile methyl groups increase the spin echo dephasing time (T m) at temperatures above 80 K. This enables DEER measurements of distances >4 nm in DZD-labeled T4L in glycerol/water at temperatures up to 150 K with increased sensitivity compared to that of a common spin label such as MTSL. Addition of β-cyclodextrin reduces the rotational correlation time of the label, slightly increases T m, and most importantly, narrows (and slightly lengthens) the interspin distance distributions. The distance distributions are in good agreement with simulated distance distributions obtained by rotamer libraries. These results provide a foundation for developing supramolecular recognition to facilitate long-distance DEER measurements at near physiological temperatures.

An iodoacetamide azaadamantyl spin label was studied in fluid solution and in 9:1 trehalose:sucrose glass. In 9:1 toluene:CH2Cl2 solution at 293 K the isotropic nitrogen hyperfine coupling is 19.2 G, T1 is 0.37 μs and T2 is 0.30 to 0.35 μs. Between about 80 and 150 K 1/Tm in 9:1 trehalose:sucrose is approximately independent of temperature demonstrating that the absence of methyl groups decreases 1/Tm relative to that which is observed in spin labels with methyl groups on the alpha carbons. Spin lattice relaxation rates between about 80 and 293 K in 9:1 trehalose:sucrose are similar to those observed for other nitroxide spin labels, consistent with the expectation that relaxation is dominated by Raman and local mode processes. Although complexation of the azaadamantyl spin label with β-cyclodextrin slows tumbling in aqueous solution by about a factor of 10, it has little impact on 1/T1 or 1/Tm in 9:1 trehalose:sucrose between 80 and 293 K.

Open-shell organic molecules, including S = 1/2 radicals, may provide enhanced properties for several emerging technologies; however, relatively few synthesized to date possess robust thermal stability and processability. We report the synthesis of S = 1/2 biphenylene-fused tetrazolinyl radicals 1 and 2. Both radicals possess near-perfect planar structures based on their X-ray structures and density-functional theory (DFT) computations. Radical 1 possesses outstanding thermal stability as indicated by the onset of decomposition at 269 °C, based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data. Both radicals possess very low oxidation potentials <0 V (vs. SCE) and their electrochemical energy gaps, E cell ≈ 0.9 eV, are rather low. Magnetic properties of polycrystalline 1 are characterized by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry revealing a one-dimensional S = 1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with exchange coupling constant J′/k ≈ −22.0 K. Radical 1 in toluene glass possesses a long electron spin coherence time, T m ≈ 7 μs in the 40–80 K temperature range, a property advantageous for potential applications as a molecular spin qubit. Radical 1 is evaporated under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) forming assemblies of intact radicals on a silicon substrate, as confirmed by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the radical molecules form nanoneedles on the substrate. The nanoneedles are stable for at least 64 hours under air as monitored by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of the thicker assemblies, prepared by UHV evaporation, indicate radical decay according to first-order kinetics with a long half-life of 50 ± 4 days at ambient conditions.

Open-shell organic molecules, including S = ½ radicals, may provide enhanced properties for several emerging technologies, however, relatively few synthesized to date possess robust thermal stability and processability. We report synthesis of S = ½ biphenylene-fused tetrazolinyl radicals 1 and 2. Both radicals possess near-perfect planar structures based on their X-ray structures and DFT computations. Radical 1 possesses an outstanding thermal stability as indicated by the onset of decomposition at 269 °C, based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data. Both radicals possess very low oxidation potentials < 0 V (vs. SCE) and their electrochemical energy gaps, Ecell 0.9 eV, are rather low. Magnetic properties of polycrystalline 1 are characterized by SQUID magnetometry revealing a one-dimensional S = ½ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with exchange coupling constant J’/k –22.0 K. Radical 1 in toluene glass possesses a long electron spin coherence time, Tm ≈ 7 μs in the 40 – 80 K temperature range, a property advantageous for potential applications as a molecular spin qubit. Radical 1 is evaporated under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) forming assemblies of intact radicals on a silicon substrate, as confirmed by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the radical molecules form nanoneedles on the substrate. The nanoneedles are stable for at least 64 hours under air as monitored by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. EPR studies of the thicker assemblies, prepared by UHV evaporation, indicate radical decay according to first-order kinetics with a long half-life of 50 +/-4 days at ambient conditions.