High yield synthesis of [C-11]-acetone through selective quenching of methyl lithium

Carbon-11 labeled acetone is a useful radiosynthetic precursor. Previously, strict control of no-carrier-added stoichiometry was required to prepare i t from reaction of CO2 and methyl lithium. However, excess methyl lithium m ay be selectively quenched to avoid reaction with nascent acetone to give t ert-butanol. We report a simple pKa-based strategy to sequentially and sele ctively quench MeLi and acetone to give yields of up to 100% acetone even i n the presence of a large excess of MeLi. The method gives good yields of a cetone under conditions that previously precluded its synthesis. NUCL MED B IOL 26;4:431-435, 1999. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.