Hyperpolarizing Pyruvate through Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE)

Hyperpolarization methods that premagnetise agents such as pyruvate are currently receiving significant attention. This is because they produce sensitivity gains that allow disease tracking and interrogation of cellular metabolism by magnetic resonance. Here, we communicate how Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange (SABRE) can provide strong ¹³C pyruvate signal enhancements in seconds through the formation of the novel polarization transfer catalyst [Ir(H)₂(η²-pyruvate)(DMSO)(IMes)]. By harnessing SABRE, strong signals for 1-¹³C and 2-¹³C pyruvate in addition to a long-lived singlet state in the 1,2-¹³C₂ form are readily created, the latter can be observed five minutes after the initial hyperpolarization step. We also demonstrate how this development may help with future studies of chemical reactivity.