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Abstract Radio Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (RASER) is a phenomenon observed during nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments with strongly negatively polarized systems. This phenomenon may be utilized for the production of very narrow NMR lines, background-free NMR spectroscopy, and excitation-free sensing of chemical transformations. Recently, novel methods of producing RASER by ParaHydrogen-Induced Polarization (PHIP) were introduced. Here, we show that pairwise addition of parahydrogen to various propargylic compounds induces RASER activity of other protons beyond those chemically introduced in the reaction. In high-field PHIP, negative polarization initiating RASER is transferred via intramolecular cross-relaxation. When parahydrogen is added in Earth’s field followed by adiabatic transfer to a high field, RASER activity of other protons is induced via bothJ-couplings and cross-relaxation. This through-bond and through-space induction of RASER holds potential for the ongoing development and expansion of RASER applications and can potentially enhance spectral resolution in two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy techniques. 

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. 

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. 

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 NMR hyperpolarization techniques enhance nuclear spin polarization by several orders of magnitude resulting in corresponding sensitivity gains. This enormous sensitivity gain enables new applications ranging from studies of small molecules by using high‐resolution NMR spectroscopy to real‐time metabolic imagingin vivo. Several hyperpolarization techniques exist for hyperpolarization of a large repertoire of nuclear spins, although the¹³C and¹⁵N sites of biocompatible agents are the key targets due to their widespread use in biochemical pathways. Moreover, their longT₁allows hyperpolarized states to be retained for up to tens of minutes. Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is a low‐cost and ultrafast hyperpolarization technique that has been shown to be versatile for the hyperpolarization of¹⁵N nuclei. Although large sensitivity gains are enabled by hyperpolarization,¹⁵N natural abundance is only ∼0.4 %, so isotopic labeling of the molecules to be hyperpolarized is required in order to take full advantage of the hyperpolarized state. Herein, we describe selected advances in the preparation of¹⁵N‐labeled compounds with the primary emphasis on using these compounds for SABRE polarization in microtesla magnetic fields through spontaneous polarization transfer from parahydrogen. Also, these principles can certainly be applied for hyperpolarization of these emerging contrast agents using dynamic nuclear polarization and other techniques. 

Abstract Many MRI contrast agents formed with the parahydrogen‐induced polarization (PHIP) technique exhibit biocompatible profiles. In the context of respiratory imaging with inhalable molecular contrast agents, the development of nonflammable contrast agents would nonetheless be highly beneficial for the biomedical translation of this sensitive, high‐throughput and affordable hyperpolarization technique. To this end, we assess the hydrogenation kinetics, the polarization levels and the lifetimes of PHIP hyperpolarized products (acids, ethers and esters) at various degrees of fluorine substitution. The results highlight important trends as a function of molecular structure that are instrumental for the design of new, safe contrast agents for in vivo imaging applications of the PHIP technique, with an emphasis on the highly volatile group of ethers used as inhalable anesthetics. 

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.