ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the preparation of high specific activity compounds containing the various radionuclides of interest. It highlights the problems associated with producing radiolabeled receptor-binding radiopharmaceuticals of high specfic activity. The synthesis of a high specific activity radiopharmaceutical labeled with any of the radionuclides of interest appears relatively simple. Problem associated with syntheses involving “no carrier added” radionuclides is the separation of the desired product from unlabeled compounds. Bromine-labeled radiopharmaceuticals are of interest primarily because the increased strength of carbon-bromine bonds, as compared to carbon-iodine bonds, should result in labeled compounds with higher in vivo stability than the radioiodinated analogs. There are, inevitably, sources of stable carbon present in an isotope production system; these include vacuum seals, vacuum pump oil, carbon dioxide adsorbed on metal surfaces, and oil from the pumps used to compress the target gas into the cylinder.
