Rapid sample injection for hyperpolarized NMR spectroscopy

• Published in: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP Vol. 12; no. 22; pp. 5766 - 577
• Main Authors: Bowen, Sean, Hilty, Christian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01.01.2010
• Subjects: Chemistry; Electric Conductivity; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glucose - chemistry; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Phosphates - chemistry; Potassium Compounds - chemistry; Solvents - chemistry; Liquid state; Polarization; High resolution; Spin; Experimental device; NMR spectrometry; Relaxation time; Design; Solid state; Relaxation; Chemistry; Line broadening; Chemical reaction; Dynamics; NMR spectrum
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c002316g

Due to its ability to enhance the signal of a single NMR scan by several orders of magnitude, solid-to-liquid state dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) appears well suited for the analysis of minimal amounts of compounds, as well as for the study of rapid chemical reactions. A key requirement in enabling the application of DNP-NMR to typical small-molecule substances encountered in chemistry and biochemistry is the ability to obtain high-resolution spectra, while at the same time minimizing the loss of polarization due to spin relaxation between the separate steps of DNP polarization and NMR measurement. Here, we present data demonstrating the capability of measuring DNP enhanced NMR spectra of compounds with comparably short relaxation times, with only minimal line broadening attributable to the sample transfer process. We discuss the performance characteristics of a sample injection apparatus specifically designed to provide high-resolution DNP-NMR spectra of small molecule compounds. Rapid sample injection yields high-resolution NMR spectra from hyperpolarized small molecules, with a quality rivalling that of conventional NMR spectroscopy.