The cross-correlation spectral d. of chem. shift anisotropy and dipolar interactions in isotropic soln. of Me fomate was measured using a novel NMR technique designed to monitor the appearance of longitudinal 2-spin order during inversion recovery. The results is tentatively interpreted in terms of the orientation of the 13C-1H internuclear vector with respect to the main axes of the 13C chem. shift anisotropy tensor of the carboxyl group. [on SciFinder (R)]