Pilot Quality-Assurance Study of a Third-Generation Batch-Mode Clinical-Scale Automated Xenon-129 Hyperpolarizer

We present a pilot quality assurance (QA) study of a clinical-scale, automated, third-generation (GEN-3) ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarizer employing batch-mode spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) with high-Xe densities (50% natural abundance Xe and 50% N₂ in ~2.6 atm total pressure sourced from Nova Gas Technologies) and rapid temperature ramping enabled by an aluminum heating jacket surrounding the 0.5 L SEOP cell. ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarization was performed over the course of 700 gas loading cycles of the SEOP cell, simulating long-term hyperpolarized contrast agent production in a clinical lung imaging setting. High levels of ¹²⁹Xe polarization (avg. %P_Xe = 51.0% with standard deviation σ_PXe = 3.0%) were recorded with fast ¹²⁹Xe polarization build-up time constants (avg. T_b = 25.1 min with standard deviation σ_Tb = 3.1 min) across the first 500 SEOP cell refills, using moderate temperatures of 75 °C. These results demonstrate a more than 2-fold increase in build-up rate relative to previously demonstrated results in a comparable QA study on a second-generation (GEN-2) ¹²⁹Xe hyperpolarizer device, with only a minor reduction in maximum achievable %P_Xe and with greater consistency over a larger number of SEOP cell refill processes at a similar polarization lifetime duration (avg. T₁ = 82.4 min, standard deviation σ_T1 = 10.8 min). Additionally, the effects of varying SEOP jacket temperatures, distribution of Rb metal, and preparation and operation of the fluid path are quantified in the context of device installation, performance optimization and maintenance to consistently produce high ¹²⁹Xe polarization values, build-up rates (T_b as low as 6 min) and lifetimes over the course of a typical high-throughput ¹²⁹Xe polarization SEOP cell life cycle. The results presented further demonstrate the significant potential for hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe contrast agent in imaging and bio-sensing applications on a clinical scale.     

(2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenylimino)thioxo-and -selenoxophosphoranes. Synthesis and structural characterization

A series of stable imino(chalcogeno)phosphoranes R  P( X)  NAr, RPh, 2, 4, 6-Me₃C₆H₂, 2, 4, 6-i-Pr₃C₆H₂; Ar 2, 4, 6-t-Bu₃C₆H₂; X  S, Se ( 5bd, 6b,c ), has been prepared by the oxidation of λ³-imino-phosphines R  P  N  Ar ( 4b-d ) with sulfur and selenium. When P  (tert-butyl)iminophosphine, t-Bu  P  N-  Ar ( 4a ), was reacted with S₈ and Se_iv the corresponding oligomeric metaphosphonimidates 7, 8 were obtained. All new compounds are characterized by their NMR spectra. The constitution of the imino(thioxo)phosphorane 5d is proved by X-ray crystal structure determination.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of β-Carboline-Hydantoin Systems

The synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 1,3-dioxo-6H-1,2,3,5,11,11a-hexahydroimidazo[1, 5-b]-β-3a-y and the reduction of carbolines 3m-r with different amounts of lithium aluminium hydride is described.