More Like this

1. The ⁴¹ Ar(n,y) ⁴² Ar reaction

   https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328401037  

   Sahoo, R. N.; Paul, M.; Köster, U.; Scott, R.; Tessler, M.; Zylstra, A.; Avila, M. L.; Dickerson, C.; Jayatissa, H.; Kohen, M.S.; et al (January 2023, EPJ Web of Conferences)

   Mattoon, C.M.; Vogt, R.; Escher, J.; Thompson, I. (Ed.)

   The cross-section of the thermal neutron capture⁴¹Ar(n,γ)⁴²Ar(t_1/2=32.9 y) reaction was measured by irradiating a⁴⁰Ar sample at the high-flux reactor of Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) Grenoble, France. The signature of the two-neutron capture has been observed by measuring the growth curve and identifying the 1524.6 keV γ-lines of the shorter-lived⁴²K(12.4 h) β⁻daughter of⁴²Ar. Our preliminary value of the⁴¹Ar(n,γ)⁴²Ar thermal cross section is 240(80) mb at 25.3 meV. For the first time, direct counting of⁴²Ar was performed using the ultra-high sensitivity technique of noble gas accelerator mass spectrometry (NOGAMS) at Argonne National Laboratory, USA. 

   more » « less
2. Extreme enrichment in atmospheric ¹⁵ N ¹⁵ N

   https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aao6741  

   Yeung, Laurence Y.; Li, Shuning; Kohl, Issaku E.; Haslun, Joshua A.; Ostrom, Nathaniel E.; Hu, Huanting; Fischer, Tobias P.; Schauble, Edwin A.; Young, Edward D. (November 2017, Science Advances)
3. Solvent Effects in Hyperpolarization of ¹⁵ N Nuclei in [ ¹⁵ N ₃ ]Metronidazole and [ ¹⁵ N ₃ ]Nimorazole Antibiotics via SABRE‐SHEATH**

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anse.202400045  

   Yi, Anna P; Salnikov, Oleg G; Burueva, Dudari B; Chukanov, Nikita V; Chekmenev, Eduard Y; Koptyug, Igor V (August 2024, Analysis & Sensing)

   Abstract Metronidazole and nimorazole are antibiotics of a nitroimidazole group which also may be potentially utilized as hypoxia radiosensitizers for the treatment of cancerous tumors. Hyperpolarization of¹⁵N nuclei in these compounds using SABRE‐SHEATH (Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange in SHield Enables Alignment Transfer to Heteronuclei) approach provides dramatic enhancement of detection sensitivity of these analytes using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Methanol‐d₄is conventionally employed as a solvent in SABRE hyperpolarization process. Herein, we investigate SABRE‐SHEATH hyperpolarization of isotopically labeled [¹⁵N₃]metronidazole and [¹⁵N₃]nimorazole in nondeuterated methanol and ethanol solvents. Optimization of such hyperpolarization parameters as polarization transfer magnetic field, temperature, parahydrogen flow rate and pressure allowed us to obtain an average¹⁵N polarization of up to 7.2–7.4 % for both substrates. The highest¹⁵N polarizations were observed in methanol‐d₄for [¹⁵N₃]metronidazole and in ethanol for [¹⁵N₃]nimorazole. At a clinically relevant magnetic field of 1.4 T the¹⁵N nuclei of these substrates possess long characteristic hyperpolarization lifetimes (T₁) of ca. 1 to ca. 7 min. This study represents a major step toward SABRE in more biocompatible solvents, such as ethanol, and also paves the way for future utilization of these hyperpolarized nitroimidazoles as molecular contrast agents for MRI visualization of tumors. 

   more » « less
4. The Influence of Secondary Interactions on the [N−I−N] ⁺ Halogen Bond

   https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202102575  

   Lindblad, Sofia; Boróka Németh, Flóra; Földes, Tamás; von der Heiden, Daniel; Vang, Herh G.; Driscoll, Zakarias L.; Gonnering, Emily R.; Pápai, Imre; Bowling, Nathan; Erdelyi, Mate (September 2021, Chemistry – A European Journal)

   Abstract [Bis(pyridine)iodine(I)]⁺complexes offer controlled access to halonium ions under mild conditions. The reactivity of such stabilized halonium ions is primarily determined by their three‐center, four‐electron [N−I−N]⁺halogen bond. We studied the importance of chelation, strain, steric hindrance and electrostatic interaction for the structure and reactivity of halogen bonded halonium ions by acquiring their¹⁵N NMR coordination shifts and measuring their iodenium release rates, and interpreted the data with the support of DFT computations. A bidentate ligand stabilizes the [N−I−N]⁺halogen bond, decreasing the halenium transfer rate. Strain weakens the bond and accordingly increases the release rate. Remote modifications in the backbone do not influence the stability as long as the effect is entirely steric. Incorporating an electron‐rich moiety close by the [N−I−N]⁺motif increases the iodenium release rate. The analysis of the iodine(I) transfer mechanism highlights the impact of secondary interactions, and may provide a handle on the induction of stereoselectivity in electrophilic halogenations. 

   more » « less
5. Synthesis and ¹⁵ N NMR Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange of [ ¹⁵ N]Dalfampridine at Microtesla Magnetic Fields

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.202100109  

   Chukanov, Nikita V.; Salnikov, Oleg G.; Trofimov, Ivan A.; Kabir, Mohammad S. H.; Kovtunov, Kirill V.; Koptyug, Igor V.; Chekmenev, Eduard Y. (April 2021, ChemPhysChem)

   Abstract Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE) technique enables nuclear spin hyperpolarization of wide range of compounds using parahydrogen. Here we present the synthetic approach to prepare¹⁵N‐labeled [¹⁵N]dalfampridine (4‐amino[¹⁵N]pyridine) utilized as a drug to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The synthesized compound was hyperpolarized using SABRE at microtesla magnetic fields (SABRE‐SHEATH technique) with up to 2.0 %¹⁵N polarization. The 7‐hour‐long activation of SABRE pre‐catalyst [Ir(IMes)(COD)Cl] in the presence of [¹⁵N]dalfampridine can be remedied by the use of pyridine co‐ligand for catalyst activation while retaining the¹⁵N polarization levels of [¹⁵N]dalfampridine. The effects of experimental conditions such as polarization transfer magnetic field, temperature, concentration, parahydrogen flow rate and pressure on¹⁵N polarization levels of free and equatorial catalyst‐bound [¹⁵N]dalfampridine were investigated. Moreover, we studied¹⁵N polarization build‐up and decay at magnetic field of less than 0.04 μT as well as¹⁵N polarization decay at the Earth's magnetic field and at 1.4 T. 

   more » « less