We introduce a new family of highly efficient polarizing agents for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP)-enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) applications, composed of asymmetric bis-nitroxides, in which a piperidine-based radical and a pyrrolinoxyl or a proxyl radical are linked together. The design of the AsymPol family was guided by the use of advanced simulations that allow computation of the impact of the radical structure on DNP efficiency. These simulations suggested the use of a relatively short linker with the intention to generate a sizable intramolecular electron dipolar coupling/J-exchange interaction, while avoiding parallel nitroxide orientations. The characteristics of AsymPol were further tuned, for instance with the addition of a conjugated carbon–carbon double bond in the 5-membered ring to improve the rigidity and provide a favorable relative orientation, the replacement of methyls by spirocyclohexanolyl groups to slow the electron spin relaxation, and the introduction of phosphate groups to yield highly water-soluble dopants. An in-depth experimental and theoretical study for two members of the family, AsymPol and AsymPolPOK, is presented here. We report substantial sensitivity gains at both 9.4 and 18.8 T. The robust efficiency of this new family is further demonstrated through high-resolution surface characterization of an important industrial catalyst using fast sample spinning at 18.8 T. This work highlights a new direction for polarizing agent design and the critical importance of computations in this process.

Efficiently hyperpolarizing proton‐dense molecular solids through dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid‐state NMR is still an unmet challenge. Polarizing agents (PAs) developed so far do not perform well on proton‐rich systems, such as organic microcrystals and biomolecular assemblies. Herein we introduce a new PA, cAsymPol‐POK, and report outstanding hyperpolarization efficiency on 12.76 kDa U‐13C,15N‐labeled LecA protein and pharmaceutical drugs at high magnetic fields (up to 18.8 T) and fast magic angle spinning (MAS) frequencies (up to 40 kHz). The performance of cAsymPol‐POK is rationalized by MAS‐DNP simulations combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD). This work shows that this new biradical is compatible with challenging biomolecular applications and unlocks the rapid acquisition of 13C–13C and 15N–13C correlations of pharmaceutical drugs at natural isotopic abundance, which are key experiments for structure determination.

A highly versatile water-soluble pyridine-spiropyran photoswitch is reported which functions as photoacid in a wide pH range. Under neutral conditions, the open-ring merocyanine (MC) exists to 48% and closes quantitatively by irradiation with visible light, while the reverse reaction occurs rapidly in the dark or by irradiation at 340 nm. The different pK of the pyridine nitrogen in the closed spiropyran (4.8) and open merocyanine form (6.8) leads to a reversible proton release in a pH range of 3-7. Only negligible hydrolytic decomposition was observed in the pH range from 1 to 12. The application of potentially harmful UV light can be circumvented due to the fast thermal ring-opening except for pH values below 3. Its photoacidic properties make this compound an effective pH-regulating photoswitch in water and enable controlled proton-transfer processes for diverse applications. Additionally, all of the involved protonated states of the compound exhibit discriminative fluorescence features within certain pH ranges, which even expands its utility to a light-controllable, pH-sensitive fluorophore.

The ultrafast photochemistry of a new spiropyran photoswitch (Py-BIPS) has been investigated, revealing many advantages in the application in water over the previously studied spiropyrans. Functionalized Py-BIPS derivatives are presented for the study of pH dependence, stability, toxicity, and the thermal and photochemical behavior on longer time scales in aqueous media using several spectroscopic methods. These investigations pave the way for the practical use of Py-BIPS derivatives as photoswitchable ligands of biomolecules.

A fulgide photoswitch is presented as a novel actinometer for a broad range of wavelengths from the UV to the NIR region (340–700 nm). It is easily accessible and has a robust photochemistry and high fatigue resistance. Its photophysics and photochemistry are described in detail. Quantum yields of photoswitching were measured for a series of wavelengths and standardized against known standards (ferrioxalate actinometry, calibrated photodiode). We also present a method for the precise determination of photoswitching quantum yields by global analysis of the whole spectra and an alternative quick and easy method for rapid determination of photon fluxes.