Hyperpolarized ^(13)C MRI visualizes real-time metabolic processes in vivo. In this study, we achieved high ^(13)C polarization in situ in the bore of an MRI system for precursor molecules of most widely employed hyperpolarized agents: [1-^(13)C]acetate and [1-^(13)C]pyruvate ethyl esters in their perdeuterated forms, enhancing hyperpolarization lifetimes, hyperpolarized to P(13C) ≈ 28% at 80 mM concentration and P(13C) ≈ 19% at 10 mM concentration, respectively. Using vinyl esters …