Molecular Dynamics and Hyperpolarization Performance of Deuterated β‑Cyclodextrins

We discuss the temperature dependence of the 1H and 13C nuclear spin–lattice relaxation rate 1/T 1 and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) performance in β-cyclodextrins with deuterated methyl groups. It is shown that 13C DNP-enhanced polarization is raised up to 10%. The temperature dependence of the buildup rate for nuclear spin polarization and of 1/T 1, below 4.2 K, is analyzed in the framework of the thermal mixing regime and the origin of the deviations from the theoretical behavior discussed. 13C 1/T 1 is determined at low temperature by the glassy dynamics and at high temperature by the rotational molecular motions of the deuterated methyl groups. Thanks to deuteration, relaxation times approaching 30 s are achieved at room temperature, making this material interesting for molecular imaging applications. The effect of molecular dynamics on the line width of the NMR spectra is also discussed.