Synthesis of 5-O-beta-iodoethyl-D-glucofuranose

The preparation of an iodinated derivative of D-glucose where a beta-iodoet hyl moiety has been introduced at O-5 is presented. In such an analogue the existence of pyranose forms is precluded and the iodinated tag Lies in a r egion of the carbohydrate not judged essential for recognition by the gluco se transport protein; also noteworthy in such a compound is the stability o f the carbon-iodine bond, a prerequisite for its potential use in SPECT med ical imaging.