Theis, T., et al., Zero-Field NMR Enhanced by Parahydrogen in Reversible Exchange. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012. 134(9): p. 3987-3990.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja2112405
We have recently demonstrated that sensitive and chemically specific NMR spectra can be recorded in the absence of a magnetic field using hydrogenative parahydrogen induced polarization (PHIP)(1-3) and detection with an optical atomic magnetometer. Here, we show that non-hydrogenative parahydrogen-induced polarization(4-6) (NH-PHIP) can also dramatically enhance the sensitivity of zero-field NMR. We demonstrate the detection of pyridine, at concentrations as low as 6 mM in a sample volume of 250 ?L, with sufficient sensitivity to resolve all identifying spectral features, as supported by numerical simulations. Because the NH-PHIP mechanism is nonreactive, operates in situ, and eliminates the need for a prepolarizing magnet, its combination with optical atomic magnetometry will greatly broaden the analytical capabilities of zero-field and low-field NMR.