[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).