Residual dipolar couplings in 31P MAS spectra of PPh3 substituted cobalt complexes

Residual dipolar couplings between 31P-59Co spin pairs were studied in 31P MAS spectra of mono- and dinuclear cobalt-triphenylphosphine complexes. These spectra can provide important information such as the scalar coupling between the dipolar phosphorus and the quadrupolar cobalt nuclei normally not available from solution phase studies. In case of complementary (NQR or x-ray) data even the relative orientation of the interacting shielding, dipolar, scalar couplings, and electric field gradient tensors or internuclear distances can be determined. Examples are shown both for well resolved and practically unresolved cases, factors which possibly control the spectral resolution are discussed in detail. (author)