Dry state preparation of radioiodine labelled meta-iodobenzylguanidine

Radioiodination of meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) by the isotopic exchange technique in the dry state has been performed. Benzoic acid, pivalic acid and acetamide have been used as molten protic media to promote isotopic exchange reactions. Ammonium sulphate, diammonium hydrogen ortho-phosphate and ammonium chloride were used as catalysts which provide acidic media to facilitate exchange reactions. Maximum radiochemical yields of 97.1±1.3% and 84.3±1.6% [131I] MIBG were obtained when ammonium sulphate and benzoic acid were used. High radiochemical yields of 88.3±1.1% and 74.4±1.5% [131I] MIBG were also obtained in case of diammonium hydrogen orthophosphate and pivalic acid which suggests their successful use as reaction media in the radioiodination of MIBG. The activation energy for the exchange reaction in ammonium sulphate was calculated to be 10.8 kcal/mole. (author)