PASADENA hyperpolarized 13C phospholactate

We demonstrate that potassium 1-(13)C-phosphoenolpyruvate becomes hyperpolarized potassium 1-(13)C-phospholactate with (13)C T(1) = 36 s after molecular hydrogenation by PASADENA (Parahydrogen and Synthesis Allows Dramatically Enhanced Nuclear Alignment). This proof-of-principle study was conducted with a fully protonated molecular precursor. (13)C was polarized to a level of 1%, corresponding to nearly 4000-fold sensitivity enhancement at 3 T. The relevant homo- and heteronuclear spin-spin couplings are reported.