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Abstract

Observing pyruvate metabolism in vivo has become a focal point of molecular magnetic resonance imaging. Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) has recently emerged as a versatile hyperpolarization technique. Tuning of the spin order transfer (SOT) in SABRE is challenging as the small ¹H–¹³C J couplings, in the ¹³C-pyruvate case, result in SOT being not readily discernible. We demonstrate an experimental method using frequency-selective excitation of parahydrogen-derived polarization SOT sequence (SEPP-SPINEPT); its application led to up to 5700-fold ¹³C signal gain. In this way, we estimated the lifetime of two Ir–pyruvate SABRE complexes alongside the individual probing of eight small ¹H–¹³C J couplings that connect the hydride protons in these complexes to 1- and 2-¹³C pyruvate spins, affording values between 0 and 2.69 Hz. Using electronic structure calculations, we define the low-energy structure of the corresponding complexes. Hence, this study demonstrates a novel approach to analyzing the spin topology of short-lived organometallic complexes.