Synthesis of suicide inhibitors of monoamine oxidase: Carbon‐11 labeled clorgyline, L‐deprenyl and D‐deprenyl

The suicide inhibitors of monoamine oxidase type A and B, clorgyline and L‐deprenyl have been labeled with carbon‐11 by [11C]methylation of the norbases with [11C]H3I. The less active enantiomer of deprenyl (D‐deprenyl) was also labeled using this procedure. The synthesis time was 35 minutes, the radiochemical yield was 25–40% and the specific activity was 0.8–2.0 Ci/μmol (calculated to EOB). Procedures for synthesis of the precursor norbases as well as the synthesis of unlabeled clorgyline, L‐deprenyl and D‐deprenyl are given.