Anomalously Large Antiphase Signals from Hyperpolarized Orthohydrogen Using a MOF-Based SABRE Catalyst

Toward Next-Generation Molecular Imaging with a Clinical Low-Field (0.064 T) Point-of-Care MRI Scanner

Low-field (LF) MRI promises soft-tissue imaging without the expensive, immobile magnets of clinical scanners but generally suffers from limited detection sensitivity and contrast. The sensitivity boost provided by hyperpolarization can thus be highly synergistic with LF MRI. Initial efforts to integrate a continuous-bubbling SABRE (signal amplification by reversible exchange) hyperpolarization setup with a portable, point-of-care 64 mT clinical MRI scanner are reported. Results from 1H SABRE MRI of pyrazine and nicotinamide are compared with those of benchtop NMR spectroscopy. Comparison with MRI signals from samples with known H2O/D2O ratios allowed quantification of the SABRE enhancements of imaged samples with various substrate concentrations (down to 3 mM). Respective limits of detection and quantification of 3.3 and 10.1 mM were determined with pyrazine 1H polarization (PH) enhancements of ∼1900 (PH ∼0.04%), supporting ongoing and envisioned efforts to realize SABRE-enabled MRI-based molecular imaging.

A Straightforward Method for the Generation of Hyperpolarized Orthohydrogen with a Partially Negative Line

The hydrogen molecule, which exists in two spin isomers (ortho- and parahydrogen), is a highly studied system due to its fundamental properties and practical applications. Parahydrogen is used for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance signal enhancement, which is hyperpolarization of other molecules, including biorelevant ones. Hyperpolarization can be achieved by using Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE). SABRE can also convert parahydrogen into orthohydrogen, and surprisingly, in some cases, it has been discovered that orthohydrogen's resonance has the Partially Negative Line (PNL) pattern. Here, an approach for obtaining orthohydrogen with a PNL signal is presented for two catalysts: Ir-IMes, and Ir-IMesBn. The type of solvent in which SABRE is conducted is crucial for the observation of PNL. Specifically, a PNL signal can be easily generated in benzene using both catalysts, but it is more intense for Ir-IMesBn. In acetone, PNL is observed only for Ir-IMesBn. In methanol, no PNL is detected. The PNL effect is only detectable during the initial steps of pre-catalyst activation, and disappears as the activation process progresses. We have proposed a working hypothesis that explains our results. The presented data may facilitate the further investigation of PNL and its applications in material science and catalysis.

Transformation of SBUs and Synergy of MOF Host-Guest in Single Crystalline State: Ingenious Strategies for Modulating Third-Order NLO Signals

Central metal exchange can innovatively open the cavity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by alternating the framework topology. Here, the single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) transformation is reported from a Co-based MOF {[Co1.25 (HL)0.5 (Pz-NH2 )0.25 (µ3 -O)0.25 (µ2 -OH)0.25 (H2 O)]·0.125 Co·0.125 L·10.25H2 O}n (Co-MOF, L = 5,5'-(1H-2,3,5-triazole-1,4-diyl)diisophthalic acid) into two novel MOF materials, {[Cu1.75 L0.75 (Pz-NH2 )0.125 (µ3 -O)0.125 (µ2 -OH)0.25 (H2 O)0.375 ]•3CH3 CN}n (Cu-MOF) and {[Zn1.75 L0.625 (Pz-NH2 )0.25 (µ3 -O)0.25 (µ2 -O)0.25 (H2 O)1.25 ]•4CH3 CN}n (Zn-MOF), through exchanging the Co2+ in the MOF into Cu2+ or Zn2+ , respectively. The free Co2+ and L4- in the Co-MOF channels fuse with the skeleton during the Co→Cu and Co→Zn exchange processes, leading to the expansion of the channel space and the transformation of the secondary building units (SBUs) to form an adjustable skeleton. The nonlinear optical response results show that the MOFs generated by the exchange of the central metal exhibit different saturable absorption and the self-focusing effect. In addition, loading polypyrrole (PPy) into the MOFs can not only improve the stability of the MOFs but also further optimize the nonlinear optical behavior. This work suggests that SC-SC central metal exchange and the introduction of polymer molecules can tune the nonlinear optical response, which provides a new perspective for the future study of nonlinear optical materials.

Non-uniform orientation of H2 molecules in a magnetic field as a critical condition for the appearance of partially negative NMR lines of o-H2 in hyperpolarization experiments using p-H2

In hyperpolarization experiments using parahydrogen, a partially negative line (PNL) of o-H2 is occasionally spotted in the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. This is a manifestation of the two-spin order (TSO) of the proton spins, appearing transiently in o-H2 molecules freshly derived from p-H2. For the TSO to be observable, the o-H2 NMR signal must be split into a doublet. In the literature, the splitting is believed to originate from a slow exchange of the dissolved dihydrogen with the dihydride moiety bound to a catalyst present in the reaction mixture. Because this hypothesis may be debatable, in this work a different splitting mechanism is proposed. It employs a residual dipolar coupling (RDC) between the hydrogen protons, originating from a partial orientation of the H2 molecules by the external magnetic field. The orientation effect is due to the anisotropic magnetic polarizability of H2. In a magnetic field of 11.74 T at room temperature, the currently predicted value of the RDC is -0.0024 Hz. Even such small RDC values are sufficient for the PNL effect to be clearly visible in NMR spectra for physically reasonable levels of the TSO in the o-H2 molecules. For RDC values much smaller than the natural linewidth of o-H2, the theoretical frequency distance between the minimum and maximum of PNL proves to be practically independent of the RDC and is of the order of the linewidth. The calculated amplitudes of the PNLs are proportional to the RDC values used in the calculations.

Iron-Catalyzed Parahydrogen Induced Polarization

Parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP) can address the low sensitivity problem intrinsic to nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using a catalyst capable of reacting with parahydrogen and substrate in either a hydrogenative or nonhydrogenative manner can result in signal enhancement of the substrate. This work describes the development of a rare example of an iron catalyst capable of reacting with parahydrogen to hyperpolarize olefins. Complexes of the form (MesCCC)Fe(H)(L)(N2) (L = Py (Py = pyridine), PMe3, PPh3) were synthesized from the reaction of the parent complexes (MesCCC)FeMes(L) (Mes = mesityl) with H2. The isolated low-spin iron(II) hydride compounds were characterized via multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. (MesCCC)Fe(H)(Py)(N2) is competent in the hydrogenation of olefins and demonstrated high activity toward the hydrogenation of monosubstituted terminal olefins. Reactions with p-H2 resulted in the first PHIP effect mediated by iron which requires diamagnetism throughout the reaction sequence. This work represents the development of a new PHIP catalyst featuring iron, unlocking potential to develop more PHIP catalysts based on first-row transition metals.