PRODUCTION OF C-11 LABELED N-HEXANE FOR USE IN POSITRON EMISSION IMAGING

Supported ruthenium catalysts have been used for the production of C-1 1-labelled n-hexane via a surface reaction carried out at two differen t temperatures, The process involves high temperature adsorption of (C O)-C-11, resulting in the production of reactive C-11(1) surface speci es; this is followed by rapid cooling to a much lower temperature at w hich 1-pentene is adsorbed. The resultant surface species are then hyd rogenated at the same temperature producing C-11-labelled hydrocarbons , including n-hexane, which are concentrated and separated by on-line gas chromatography. By injecting the C-11-labelled n-hexane into a cat alytic reactor working under steady state conditions it is possible to use positron emission imaging to study reactions inside a working rea ctor.