High yield synthesis of 14C labeled alicyclic amino acids with high specific radioactivity using potassium (14C) cyanide.

In order to study the tumor specificity of synthetic nonmetabolizing amino acids, 10 different 14C labeled alicyclic amino acids (3a-3j) were synthesized in high yield and with high specific radioactivity. Carbon-14 labeled alicyclic hydantoins (2a-2j) were synthesized from a small amount of radioactive potassium [14C] cyanide and corresponding ketones (1a-1j). Th 14C hydantoins (2a-2j) thus obtained were hydrolyzed without isolation to give 14C labeled alicyclic amino acids (3a-3j). The overall radiochemical yields of the amino acids (3a-3j) from potassium [14C] cyanide were 55.6-93.2% with radiochemical purity more than 99%. Specific activities of these 14C labeled compounds (3a-3j) were 209- 250 MBq/mmol (5.66-6.75 mCi/mmol). When non-radioactive potassium cyanide was not added as a carrier, 1-aminocyclopentane[14C]-carboxylic acid (3b) and 1-aminocyclooctane[14C]carboxylic acid (3e) were synthesized in the yield of 64.9 and 19.0% respectively with the specific activity exceed more than 1.85 GBq/mmol (50mCi/mmol).