Cyto-active amino-acids and peptides. Part XV. The synthesis of p-di-(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl-L-alanine (melphalan) labelled with tritium

Abstract

Experiments aimed at the preparation of ring-tritiated melphalan by the catalytic replacement of iodine are described. Owing to the lability of tritium ortho to the amino ring-substituent much of the incorporated radioactivity was subsequently lost. Nevertheless products of high specific activity were obtained, suitable for most metabolic and mechanism of action studies.