SABRE Ir-IMes Catalysis for the Masses.

Area of Science:

• Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) enhances Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) signals using parahydrogen.
• The Ir-IMes catalyst is crucial for SABRE but traditionally requires complex synthesis.
• Limited accessibility of the catalyst hinders SABRE methodology dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified, cost-effective, and reproducible synthesis for the Ir-IMes SABRE catalyst.
• To make SABRE hyperpolarization techniques more accessible to a wider scientific community.
• To validate the synthesis on a larger scale compared to previous methods.

Main Methods:

• A robust synthetic procedure for the Ir-IMes catalyst was developed.
• The synthesis bypasses the need for specialized inert atmosphere equipment (glove box, Schlenk line).
• The procedure was scaled up to several grams, significantly larger than prior methods.

Main Results:

• The synthesized [Ir(IMes)(COD)Cl] catalyst was successfully activated in situ.
• Hyperpolarization experiments demonstrated signal enhancements comparable to or exceeding those from catalysts made with specialized equipment.
• The simplified synthesis proved effective and reproducible on a multi-gram scale.

Conclusions:

• A simplified, inexpensive, and scalable synthesis of the Ir-IMes SABRE catalyst is presented.
• This method lowers the barrier for researchers to utilize SABRE hyperpolarization.
• The developed procedure facilitates broader adoption and application of SABRE NMR techniques.