The application of novel Ir-NHC polarization transfer complexes by SABRE.

In recent years, the hyperpolarization method Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) has developed into a powerful technique to enhance Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) signals of organic substrates in solution (mostly via binding to the nitrogen lone pair of N-heterocyclic compounds) by several orders of magnitude. In order to establish the application and development of SABRE as a hyperpolarization method for medical imaging, the separation of the Ir-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (Ir-NHC) complex, which facilitates the hyperpolarization of the substrates in solution, is indispensable. Here, we report for the first time the use of novel Ir-NHC complexes with a polymer unit substitution in the backbone of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHC) for SABRE hyperpolarization, which permits the removal of the complexes from solution after the hyperpolarization of a target substrate has been generated.

Malodorogenic Sensing of Carbon Monoxide.

A thin film of poly-([IrCl(cod)(NHC-onbe)]n -(propyl-onbe)m ) (onbe=oxanorbornene) coated on filter paper reacts quantitatively with CO to yield 1,5-cyclooctadiene, the unpleasant smell of which can be detected by the human olfactory system with very high sensitivity. Odorless, but toxic CO is thus "translated" into the distinct smell of 1,5-cyclooctadiene. Based on malodorogenic sensing it is possible to smell the presence of CO.

Triptycene-Based Chiral and meso-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Metal Complexes.

Based on 1-amino-4-hydroxy-triptycene, new saturated and unsaturated triptycene-NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands were synthesized from glyoxal-derived diimines. The respective carbenes were converted into metal complexes [(NHC)MX] (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=Cl, Br) and [(NHC)MCl(cod)] (M=Rh, Ir; cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) in good yields. The new azolium salts and metal complexes suffer from limited solubility in common organic solvents. Consequently, the introduction of solubilizing groups (such as 2-ethylhexyl or 1-hexyl by O-alkylation) is essential to render the complexes soluble. The triptycene unit infers special steric properties onto the metal complexes that enable the steric shielding of selected areas close to the metal center. Next, chiral and meso-triptycene based N-heterocyclic carbene ligands were prepared. The key step in the synthesis of the chiral ligand is the Buchwald-Hartwig amination of 1-bromo-4-butoxy-triptycene with (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane, followed by cyclization to the azolinium salt with HC(OEt)3 . The analogous reaction with meso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-diaminoethane provides the respective meso-azolinium salt. Both the chiral and meso-azolinium salts were converted into metal complexes including [(NHC)AuCl], [(NHC)RhCl(cod)], [(NHC)IrCl(cod)], and [(NHC)PdCl(allyl)]. An in situ prepared chiral copper complex was tested in the enantioselective borylation of α,ß-unsaturated esters and found to give an excellent enantiomeric ratio (er close to 90:10).