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Science 27 March 2009:
Vol. 323. no. 5922, pp. 1708 - 1711
DOI: 10.1126/science.1168877

Reports

Reversible Interactions with para-Hydrogen Enhance NMR Sensitivity by Polarization Transfer

Ralph W. Adams,1 Juan A. Aguilar,1 Kevin D. Atkinson,1 Michael J. Cowley,1 Paul I. P. Elliott,1* Simon B. Duckett,1{dagger} Gary G. R. Green,2 Iman G. Khazal,1 Joaquín López-Serrano,1 David C. Williamson1

The sensitivity of both nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging is very low because the detected signal strength depends on the small population difference between spin states even in high magnetic fields. Hyperpolarization methods can be used to increase this difference and thereby enhance signal strength. This has been achieved previously by incorporating the molecular spin singlet para-hydrogen into hydrogenation reaction products. We show here that a metal complex can facilitate the reversible interaction of para-hydrogen with a suitable organic substrate such that up to an 800-fold increase in proton, carbon, and nitrogen signal strengths are seen for the substrate without its hydrogenation. These polarized signals can be selectively detected when combined with methods that suppress background signals.

1 Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
2 York Neuroimaging Centre, The Biocentre York Science Park, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DG, UK.

* Present address: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sbd3{at}york.ac.uk

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Modalities, Modes, and Models in Functional Neuroimaging.
K. J. Friston (2009)
Science 326, 399-403
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