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Abstract Demonstration of parahydrogen‐induced polarization effects in hydrogenations catalyzed by heterogeneous catalysts instead of metal complexes in a homogeneous solution has opened an entirely new dimension for parahydrogen‐based research, demonstrating its applicability not only for the production of catalyst‐free hyperpolarized liquids and gases and long‐lived non‐equilibrium spin states for potential biomedical applications, but also for addressing challenges of modern fundamental and industrial catalysis including advanced mechanistic studies of catalytic reactions and operando NMR and MRI of reactors. This essay summarizes the progress achieved in this field by highlighting the research contributed to it by our colleague and friend Kirill V. Kovtunov whose scientific career ended unexpectedly and tragically at the age of 37. His role in this research was certainly crucial, further enhanced by a vast network of his contacts and collaborations at the national and international level. 

Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging of [1‐¹³C]hyperpolarized carboxylates (most notably, [1‐¹³C]pyruvate) allows one to visualize abnormal metabolism in tumors and other pathologies. Herein, we investigate the efficiency of¹H and¹³C hyperpolarization of acetate and pyruvate esters with ethyl, propyl and allyl alcoholic moieties using heterogeneous hydrogenation of corresponding vinyl, allyl and propargyl precursors in isotopically unlabeled and 1‐¹³C‐enriched forms with parahydrogen over Rh/TiO₂catalysts in methanol‐d₄and in D₂O. The maximum obtained¹H polarization was 0.6±0.2 % (for propyl acetate in CD₃OD), while the highest¹³C polarization was 0.10±0.03 % (for ethyl acetate in CD₃OD). Hyperpolarization of acetate esters surpassed that of pyruvates, while esters with a triple carbon‐carbon bond in unsaturated alcoholic moiety were less efficient as parahydrogen‐induced polarization precursors than esters with a double bond. Among the compounds studied, the maximum¹H and¹³C NMR signal intensities were observed for propyl acetate. Ethyl acetate yielded slightly less intense NMR signals which were dramatically greater than those of other esters under study. 

Abstract The growing interest in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing regional lung function relies on the use of nuclear spin hyperpolarized gas as a contrast agent. The long gas‐phase lifetimes of hyperpolarized¹²⁹Xe make this inhalable contrast agent acceptable for clinical research today despite limitations such as high cost, low throughput of production and challenges of¹²⁹Xe imaging on clinical MRI scanners, which are normally equipped with proton detection only. We report on low‐cost and high‐throughput preparation of proton‐hyperpolarized diethyl ether, which can be potentially employed for pulmonary imaging with a nontoxic, simple, and sensitive overall strategy using proton detection commonly available on all clinical MRI scanners. Diethyl ether is hyperpolarized by pairwise parahydrogen addition to vinyl ethyl ether and characterized by¹H NMR spectroscopy. Proton polarization levels exceeding 8 % are achieved at near complete chemical conversion within seconds, causing the activation of radio amplification by stimulated emission radiation (RASER) throughout detection. Although gas‐phaseT₁relaxation of hyperpolarized diethyl ether (at partial pressure of 0.5 bar) is very efficient, withT₁of ca. 1.2 second, we demonstrate that, at low magnetic fields, the use of long‐lived singlet states created via pairwise parahydrogen addition extends the relaxation decay by approximately threefold, paving the way to bioimaging applications and beyond.