Simplified synthesis of 1,1′[ 14 C]‐methylene‐di (2‐naphthol). A radiochemical and kinetic approach

The synthesis of the 1,1′[ 14 C]‐methylene‐di‐(2‐naphthol) 2 , as the radiolabeled probe of a possible interaction between the β ‐amyloid fibrils and the di‐naphthol mojety in the Alzheimer's disease, is reported. Very simple radiochemical procedure, starting from [ 14 C]paraformaldehyde, produced 8.66 MBq of compound 2 at the specific radioactivity of 1.22 TBq/mol. A mechanistic and kinetic approach allowed the comprehension of the right experimental conditions. The stability of compound 2 in acetonitrile solution was investigated, denoting a significative decomposition process through the transient formation of the 1,2‐naphthyne intermediate. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.