Minimizing the effects of RF inhomogeneity and phase transients allows resolution of two peaks in the 1H CRAMPS NMR spectrum of adamantane

One of the limiting factors to achieving highly resolved (1)H NMR spectra with (1)H homonuclear decoupling sequences is imperfections in the applied radiofrequency (RF) pulses, most notably phase transients and RF inhomogeneity. Through a series of simulations and solid-state NMR experiments, it is demonstrated that the combined effects of phase transients and RF inhomogeneity can be minimized by a combination of (i) restricting the sample to small volume of the rotor, (ii) by employing a super-cycled version of the DUMBO decoupling sequence, and (iii) by carefully adjusting the probe tuning such that the asymmetric component of phase transients is minimized. Under these optimal conditions, it was possible to clearly resolve two signals in the (1)H CRAMPS NMR spectrum of adamantane arising from the CH and CH2 protons in the molecule. It is proposed that adamantane could be a very useful setup sample for (1)H CRAMPS NMR as the two peaks are only resolved when the effects of RF inhomogeneity and phase transients are minimized.