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Variable temperature magic angle spinning 13C NMR experiments on linear alkanes and low molecular weight polyethylene allowed the observation of up to six carbon atoms at the chain ends near the surface of the lamellar crystallites. Conformational order-disorder and intermolecular packing effects are reflected by the spectra. The effects are discussed with regard to the peculiar phase behaviour of the n-alkanes and the fringed micella model for low molecular weight polyethylene. The solid-solid transitions of nonadecane and hexatriacontane appear to be correlated with the occurrence of specific non-liquid-like conformational disordering. Thus, conformational defects were observed for the "rotator phase" which depend on the chain length and which vary along the chain. Whilst the center part of the chain remains all-trans ordered, significant gauche defects were observed for the bonds at the chain ends. For a polydisperse low molecular weight linear polyethylene as well as for monodisperse octahexacontahectane reversible liquid-like conformational disordering of the terminal chain segments could be detected when the melting point was approached. Hence, in this case the NMR spectra indicate pre-melting of the lamella surface, while in case of the shorter n-alkanes the Occurrence of end-gauche defects is correlated with solid-solid transitions.

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR), the light-driven proton pump protein from Halobacterium halobium, was biosynthetically labeled with [4-13C]Asp. The incorporation yield was 48%. The magic angle sample spinning (MASS) 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of this sample revealed six different peaks superimposed on a broad band of naturally abundant peptide-bond 13C. Two of the six carbonyl signals can be attributed to internal-protonated Asp carboxyl groups, one of which might be Asp115. An additional resonance at 110 ppm can be associated with the C-11 carbon of Trp, indicating an unusual biosynthetic pathway of this amino acid in Halobacterium halobium. Similar measurements performed on papain-treated purple membrane which lacks the C-terminal tail display two new intense signals at 178 and 178.9 ppm. If the same spectrum is taken without cross-polarization, these signals do not decrease or disappear. On the basis of their intensities and their chemical shifts, one can assign in addition to the C-terminal Asp four Asp residues facing the cytoplasmic phase. In native bR, at least two of these form a salt-bridge-like bond which also might include the C-terminal tail. These experiments not only provide data about the chemical environment of the Asp residues within the hydrophobic core of bacteriorhodopsin but also yield information about the interactions between surface components.

The aim of our study was to show that NMR spectroscopy is an excellent method to obtain reliable information about the equilibrium between free formaldehyde and its formaldehyde releasers. For this purpose, we compared several O- and N-formal-based formaldehyde releasers used in industrial and consumer products. The underlying chemical structures as well as the release of formaldehyde were followed quantitatively as a function of the pH and dilution. It was shown that only the amide-based N-formals are a reservoir for formaldehyde in the concentrations normally used in cosmetic products, whereas O-formals and the amine-based N-formals decompose completely. Since NMR spectroscopy does not affect the equilibrium between free and bound formaldehyde, we think that it is the only method for unequivocal determination of free formaldehyde. Measurements on finished products showed that free formaldehyde can be quantified down to concentrations as low as approximately 0.002 wt % in an acceptable measuring time.

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