Dual-Function pH and Oxygen Phosphonated Trityl Probe

Triarylmethyl radicals (TAMs) are used as persistent paramagnetic probes for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic and imaging applications and as hyperpolarizing and contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton electron double resonance imaging (PEDRI). Recently we proposed the concept of dual-function pH and oxygen TAM probes based on the incorporation of ionizable groups into the TAM structure (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7240-7241). In this paper we report the synthesis of a deuterated derivative of phosphonated trityl radical, pTAM. The presence of phosphono substitutes in the structure of TAM provides pH sensitivity of its EPR spectrum in the physiological range from 6 to 8, the phosphorus hyperfine splitting acting as a convenient and highly sensitive pH marker (spectral sensitivity, 3 Delta a(p)/Delta pH approximate to 0.5 G/pH unit; accuracy of pH measurements, +/- 0.05). In addition, substitution of 36 methyl protons with deuterons significantly decreased the individual line width of pTAM down to 40 mG and, as consequence, provided high sensitivity of the line width broadening to pO(2)(Delta H/Delta pO(2)approximate to 0.4 mG/mmHg; accuracy of pO(2) measurements, approximate to 1 mmHg). The independent character of pH and [O-2] effects on the EPR spectra of pTAM provides dual functionality to this probe, allowing extraction of both parameters from a single EPR spectrum.