Microwave-enhanced Radiochemistry

The synthesis, analysis and applications of labeled compounds constitute an area in which basic and applied research go hand-in-hand. Over the last quarter of a century the field has seen considerable expansion as refiected in the emergence of a specific journal Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals) and the publication of the proceedings of international symposiums held at 3-yearly intervals. The formation of the International Isotope Society is also an indication of the increasing importance of isotopes and isotopically labeled compounds. 

In labeling a compound with a stable isotope and with a radioactive isotope there 

Microwaves in Organic Synthesis, Second edition. Edited by A. Loupy Copyright 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN 3-527-31452-0 

Whilst the work that we focus on in the first part of this chapter concerns the preparation of tritium- and inevitably deuterium-labeled compounds, examples are given where the benefits can also be applied to the carbon ( C, and C)-labeled area [8]. Also discussed is the use of microwaves in the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals labeled with positron emitters, such as carbon-11 (ti/2 = 20.4 min) and fluorine-18 (ti/2 = 109.7 min). The short half lives of these radioisotopes, together with the requirements for high radiochemical yield (RCY), radiochemical purity (RCP) and specific activity (SA) can benefit from the advantages that micro-waves provide [8, 9]. 

Methods for Incorporating Tritium into Organic Compounds 

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Elander, N., Jones, J.R., Lu, S.Y. and Stone-Elander, S., Microwave-enhanced radiochemistry, Chem. Soc. 

Elander N, Jones JR, Lu SY, and Stone-Elander S (2000) Microwave-enhanced radiochemistry. Chemical Society Reviews 29 239-249. 

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