nai

Project Progress

In our ongoing quest to determine analytic methodology for the quantitative determination of Titan tholin composition, with absolute molecular (structural) identification, we synthesized laboratory tholins with complete ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic composition. Not altering the chemistry of synthesis, this technique produces a tholin in which every atom of every molecule possesses a nuclear spin of I=1/2 and thus is spin coupled to every neighboring atom within the given molecule. In this way, it is possible to use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) to observe in a simple way each and every atom in a given tholin component molecule, its spin interaction with its neighboring atoms , in principle, through multidimensional spin-spin coupling techniques, determine the absolute bonding configuration of each and every atom in each molecular component in the tholin mixture as a whole. We have now completed the one dimensional (direct spin) spectrum of solution phase tholin mixtures in d6-dimethyl sulfoxide solutions in proton, carbon and nitrogen yielding the gross spectra of the tholin mixtures. Using spin decoupling we have determined the bonding relationships of the major spin signals. Using 2 dimensional spectroscopy, we have confirmed the chemical environment, bond relationship and functional group identification of the major signals and through three dimensional NMR confirmed the larger functionality, including all three of the H, C and N bonding partners. In this manner we have now, for the first time ever, with quantitative determination, identified the major small molecules in a tholin sample with complete molecular identification with the major constituents shown in Figure 1. In addition, we have gained additional functional group information without complete molecule structure regarding the less resolved structure within the spectrum, a gross mixture of very large, structurally similar large molecules tending towards polymers. In this way, we have the largest set of chemical information regarding tholin composition existing, which can predict tholin behavior as regards chemical properties, stability and reactivity. Using NMR, we have also demonstrated the thermal lability of tholins in a quantitative way by following the molecular signatures as tholins are heated as solids and as liquid solutions, verifying the importance of low temperature anaerobic approaches to tholin chemical analysis and identification for future studies if nascent properties are desired.

In our developing studies of the critical value of NMR to molecular quantitative and qualitative analysis of gross, un-separated mixtures of complex molecules, we performed an nmr study of the dissolved gasses expected to be present within the Titan lakes, determining the precise chemical shifts, spin coupling values and spin relaxation times for ¹H and ¹³C nuclei in the C1-C4 hydrocarbons in a variety of pure hydrocarbon solvents at temperatures down to 190 K. The values for the most critical components in the common solvent d6-cyclohexane at 300 K are shown in Table 1. Insignificant variations in chemical shifts are seen when going to low temperature pentane solvent, though variations, which are predictable, of T1 relaxation times are observed which need to be considered when making quantitative signal comparisons or in multidimensional spectroscopy.