Synthesis of Deuterated or Tritiated Glycine and Its Methyl Ester

Abstract

Heating glycine (Gly) and methyl glycinate (GlyOCH₃) supported on 5% Pd/C or 5% Pt/C in a deuterium or tritium gas atmosphere gave the isotope-labeled products. The experiments were carried out at 180°C for 10 min. The deuterium atom inclusion under these conditions averaged up to 1.8 atoms per molecule for Gly and up to 1.0 atom per molecule for GlyOCH₃. The reaction with tritium gas gave labeled products with a specific radioactivity of 27–31 Ci/mmol for Gly and 18 Ci/mmol for GlyOCH₃.