J. Vidal-Gancedo/J. Veciana (ICMAB-CSIC)

An enantiopure propeller-like trityl-brominated radical: Bringing together a high racemization barrier and an efficient circularly polarized luminescent magnetic emitter

A new persistent organic free radical has been synthetized with Br atoms occupying the ortho‐ and para‐positions of a trityl core. After the isolation of its two propeller‐like atropisomers, Plus (P) and minus (M), their absolute configurations were assigned by a combination of theoretical and experimental data. Remarkably, no hints of racemization were observed up to 60 °C for more than two hours, due to the higher steric hindrance imposed by the bulky Br atoms. Therefore, when compared to its chlorinated homologue (t_1/2=18 s at 60 °C), an outstanding stability against racemization was achieved. A circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) response of both enantiomers was detected. This free radical shows a satisfactory luminescent dissymmetry factor (|g_lum(592 nm)|≈0.7×10⁻³) despite its pure organic nature and low luminescence quantum yield (LQY). Improved organic magnetic CPL emitters derived from the reported structure can be envisaged thanks to the wide possibilities that Br atoms at para‐positions offer for further functionalization.

A benzyl alcohol derivative of the BDPA radical for fast dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization NMR spectroscopy

A new polarizing agent for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (BA-BDPA) is described. It meets all the requirements to become a promising candidate for its use in in vivo DNP-NMR experiments: it is soluble in neat [1-13C]pyruvic acid, insoluble in the dissolution transfer solvent and is effective as a polarizing agent in fast dissolution DNP-NMR applications, without the need for using glassing agents. Moreover, it enables a simple but effective in-line radical filtration to obtain hyperpolarized solutions of [1-13C]- pyruvic acid free of radicals that offers a better polarization performance.