Synthesis and purification of 11C-Carboxyl-labeled amino acids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0020-708X(78)90142-4

A rapid high-temperature modification of the Bucherer-Strecker amino acid synthesis, developed for the production of ¹¹C-carboxyl-labeled 1 amino cyclopentane carboxylic acid (ACPC), has been found to be of general use for the synthesis of other ¹¹C-labeled neutral amino acids, and, with certain modifications, was also found to be applicable to the synthesis of ¹¹C-labeled DL-tryptophan, a basic amino acid. The method requires 20 min for synthesis and an additional 25 min for purification. Chemical yields of the purified amino acids, based on cyanide have ranged from 10-70%; ¹¹C activity levels as high as 363 mCi (¹¹-DL-valine) (¹-DL-valine) have been obtained in the final product.