Method for creating hyperpolarization at microtesla magnetic fields

1. A method of hyperpolarizing heteronuclei, the method comprising:

(a) combining a plurality of molecules of parahydrogen, a plurality of molecules of a catalyst, and a plurality of molecules of a compound, where the compound includes a heteronucleus and another atom that exists naturally as either a quadrupolar or a non-quadrupolar isotope, where the heteronucleus in at least 50% of the plurality of molecules of the compound is a hyperpolarizable heteronucleus, and where the plurality of molecules of the compound have been modified so as to isotopically enrich the other atom with the non-quadrupolar isotope, and where the parahydrogen, the compound and the catalyst associate to form a complex; and

(b) applying a magnetic field with a strength of less than 50 μT to the complex, thereby transferring the spin order from the parahydrogen to the hyperpolarizable heteronucleus associated with the complex.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the other atom is a nitrogen atom, and the plurality of molecules of the compound have been modified so as to isotopically enrich the nitrogen atom with 15 N.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the other atom is a hydrogen atom, and the plurality of molecules of the compound have been modified so as to isotopically enrich the hydrogen atom with 1 H.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the hyperpolarizable heteronucleus is 13 C.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the hyperpolarizable heteronucleus is 19 F.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the hyperpolarizable heteronucleus is 15 N, 29 Si, 31 P, 129 Xe, 7 Li, 89 Y, 107 Ag or 109 Ag.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the spin order is transferred during a temporary association of parahydrogen, the compound, and the catalyst while maintaining the chemical identity of the compound.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the magnetic field is determined by matching the resonance frequency of parahydrogen with the resonance frequency of at least one hyperpolarizable nucleus of the compound.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the magnetic field has a strength of less than 20 μT.

10. The method of claim 1 , where the magnetic field has a strength of about 0.1 to about 1 μT.

11. The method of claim 1 , where the catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst.

12. The method of claim 1 , where the catalyst is a homogeneous catalyst.

13. The method of claim 1 , where the catalyst comprises a transition metal.

14. The method of claim 13 , where the transition metal in the complex coordinates with the other atom.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transition metal is iridium.

16. The method of claim 1 , where the catalyst is activated prior to forming the complex, and the pre-activation catalyst is [IrCl(COD)(IMes)].

17. The method of claim 1 , where the catalyst is a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst accommodates the simultaneous exchange of para-H 2 and heteronuclear spin center(s), and wherein the condition of spin-spin (weak or strong J) coupling between para-H 2 derived protons and heteronuclear spin center(s) is maintained.

18. The method of claim 1 , where the compound is a contrast agent for an in vivo imaging technique.

19. The method of claim 1 , where the heteronucleus is a first heteronucleus and the compound further includes a second heteronucleus, where the second heteronucleus in at least 50% of the plurality of molecules of the compound is a hyperpolarizable heteronucleus, wherein when the first and second heteronuclei are both hyperpolarizable, the first and second heteronuclei are a J-coupled pair;

wherein upon applying the magnetic field with a strength of less than 50 μT to the complex, the spin order from the parahydrogen is transferred to the J-coupled pair, thereby inducing a hyperpolarized long-lived spin state.