Tritium Thermal Activation Method. Features of Application, Modern Achievements, and Further Development Prospects

The tritium thermal activation method is discussed based on the formation of atomic tritium via dissociation of tritium molecules on a tungsten wire heated by an electric current. An analysis was made of the development of ideas about the processes occurring in the system and methods for optimizing the conditions for obtaining labeled compounds, ensuring required values of specific radioactivity and intramolecular distribution and minimum amount of by-products.This approach allows introduction of tritium not only into individual compounds, but also into complex mixtures of molecules, providing a uniform distribution of the label over the components. On the other hand, selective introduction of tritium into sterically accessible fragments of supramolecular complexes may give information on structural organization of complexes. The tritium probe method as a systematic approach is considered, including preparation of tritium-labeled compounds, determination of the formation conditions of intermolecular complexes with their help, determination of composition of complexes and, using treatment with tritium atoms and distribution of tritium over the components, determination of structural parameters of complexes. The use of tritium thermal activation method, together with computer simulation and modern instrumental research methods, makes it possible to obtain unique information about the composition and structure of complex multicomponent systems.