Radiosyntheses of labeled beta-pseudothymidine ([C-11]- and [H-3]methyl) and its biodistribution and metabolism in normal and tumored mice.

In order to develop labeled probes for measuring DNA synthetic rates in vivo we investigated [H-3]- and [C-11]methyl labeled beta-pseudothymidine (2a), and report on their radiosyntheses from methyl iodide. We find methylation is rapid and regioselective on N-1 of the acylurea moiety of 2'-deoxy-beta-D-pseudouridine (1a), in the presence of N,N-diisopropylethylamine and N,N-dimethylformamide at 60 degrees C. Although yields are low (11% [C-11]-decay corrected and 4.4% [H-3]), the method is simple and high specific activity tritiated methyl iodide can be used. In contrast to the rapid degradative de-glycosylation of thymidine in blood, beta-pseudothymidine is stable. However, based on biodistribution and metabolite studies, the anticipated uptake of [H-3]methyl-beta-pseudothymidine into mouse DNA of proliferating tissues (e.g. spleen, thymus and duodenum) and implanted tumors was not observed.