Measuring Spin Relaxation Rates Using Satellite Exchange NMR Spectroscopy.

An approach to the indirect measurement of nuclear spin relaxation rates of low-magnetogyric ratio (γ) nuclei using the process of satellite exchange is described. The method does not require the observation of, or even the ability to provide radio-frequency pulses to, the low-γ nucleus, but requires this to be scalar coupled to an NMR observable nucleus, such as 31 P or 1 H, making it especially attractive for the study of diamagnetic transition metals. In situations where spin relaxation is dominated by chemical shift anisotropy (CSA), the determination of the longitudinal spin relaxation time constant (T1 ) of the metal becomes possible, as illustrated for 195 Pt and 107/109 Ag.