TRITIATION OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS BY POLYMER-SUPPORTED BASE CATALYSTS

A range of organic compounds have been tritiated (and in some cases de uteriated) via hydrogen isotope exchange reactions using polymer suppo rted base catalysts. The problem of poor thermal stability of some com mercially available anion exchange resins, which limits their use as t ritiation catalysts, has been overcome by the preparation of a more st able polymer supported pyridinium salt. The anion exchange resins are as effective at very high activities of tritiated water as they are at low and compounds containing nitro groups. which poison metal-catalys ed exchange reactions, can be successfully labelled.