Abstract
$^1H$ NMR spectra of imidazole, 2-and 4(5)-methylimidazole, histamine, L-histidine, L-histidine methyl ester, N${\alpha}$-acetyl-L-histidine, and L-carnosine coordinated to the paramagnetic undecatungstocobalto(II)silicate ($SiW_{11}Co$) and undecatungstonickelo(II)silicate ($SiW_{11}Ni$) anions are reported. For these complexes the ligand exchange is slow on the NMR time scale and the pure resonance lines of the free ligand and the complexes have been observed separately at room temperature. Two different complexes are formed, depending upon which nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring is coordinated to the cobalt or nickel ion of $SiW_{11}M$. Thus the NMR spectrum of a $D_2O$ solution containing a ligand and $SiW_{11}M$ consists of three sets of lines originating from the free ligand and two complexes. All NMR lines of the $SiW_{11}Co$ complexes have been assigned unequivocally using the saturation transfer technique. The temperature dependence of some spectra are also reported. The NMR spectra of some complexes show that the internal rotation of the substituent on the imidazole ring is hampered by the heteropolyanion moiety even at room temperature.