The pulsed EPR technique of electron spin echo-electron nuclear double
resonance (ESE-ENDOR) is used to measure Mn-55 nuclear spin transitio
ns in a variety of orientationally disordered high-spin Mn2+ complexes
. The large hyperfine interaction and the large net electronic spin of
the S = 5/2 Mn2+ ion give rise to a number of interesting effects in
the ENDOR spectrum. These are illustrated with ESE-ENDOR experiments o
n Mn2+ as a substitutional impurity in powdered SrO. The ''powder patt
ern'' Mn-55 ENDOR spectrum of Mn2+ present as an impurity in CaCO3 is
more complicated due to the moderate zero field splitting interaction
for the S = 5/2 ion in this matrix. The effects of substantial zero fi
eld splitting interactions are explored with Mn-55 ENDOR of Mn2+ in th
e protein concanavalin A and Mn2+ in a frozen water glass.