Cross-correlation effects in the solution NMR spectra of near-equivalent spin-1/2 pairs

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of spin-1/2 pairs contain four peaks, with two inner peaks much stronger than the outer peaks in the near-equivalence regime. We have observed that the strong inner peaks have significantly different linewidths when measurements were performed on a ¹³C₂-labelled triyne derivative. This linewidth difference may be attributed to strong cross-correlation effects. We develop the theory of cross-correlated relaxation in the case of near-equivalent homonuclear spin-1/2 pairs, in the case of a molecule exhibiting strongly anisotropic rotational diffusion. Good agreement is found with the experimental NMR lineshapes.