A method for providing .sup.11C-labeled cyanides from .sup.11C labeled oxides in a target gas stream retrieved from an irradiated high pressure gaseous target containing O.sub.2, wherein .sup.11C labeled oxides are reduced with H.sub.2 in the presence of a nickel catalyst under a pressure and a temperature sufficient to form a product stream comprising at least about 95% .sup.11CH.sub.4, the .sup.11CH.sub.4 is then combined with an excess of NH.sub.3 in a carrier/reaction stream flowing at an accelerated velocity and the combined .sup.11CH4 carrier/reaction stream is then contacted with a platinum (Pt) catalyst particulate supported on a substantially-chemically-nonreactive heat-stable support at a temperature of at least about 900° C., whereby a product stream comprising at least about 60% H.sup.11CN is provided in less than 10 minutes from retrieval of the .sup.11C labeled oxide.

A method for providing .sup.11C-labeled cyanides from .sup.11C labeled oxides in a target gas stream retrieved from an irradiated high pressure gaseous target containing O.sub.2, wherein .sup.11C labeled oxides are reduced with H.sub.2 in the presence of a nickel catalyst under a pressure and a temperature sufficient to form a product stream comprising at least about 95% .sup.11CH.sub.4, the .sup.11CH.sub.4 is then combined with an excess of NH.sub.3 in a carrier/reaction stream flowing at an accelerated velocity and the combined .sup.11CH4 carrier/reaction stream is then contacted with a platinum (Pt) catalyst particulate supported on a substantially-chemically-nonreactive heat-stable support at a temperature of at least about 900° C., whereby a product stream comprising at least about 60% H.sup.11CN is provided in less than 10 minutes from retrieval of the .sup.11C labeled oxide.

A compound of formula (I) or a salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 represents a five-membered aromatic heterocycle selected from a N- or a C-linked mono- or di-substituted pyrazole, an N- or a C-linked optionally mono- or di-substituted triazole or an N- or a C-linked optionally mono- or di-substituted imidazole, which five-membered aromatic heterocycle may be substituted by one or two of the groups selected a methyl group, an ethyl group, a fluorine atom, a hydroxymethyl group, a 2-hydroxypropan-2-yl group, a trifluoromethyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a fluoromethyl group, except that when R.sub.1 represents an N-linked mono- or di-substituted pyrazole, Ri does not represent 3,5-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl, 5-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl, 5-Ethyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl, 3,5-Diethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl, 4-Fluoro-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl, 3-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl or 1H-pyrazol-1-yl.

The present invention relates to labeled chiral alpha-hydroxy ketoacid derivatives, a process for preparing the derivatives and their use for isotopic labeling of amino acids, in particular, for isotopic labeling of methyl groups of amino acids, and more particularly, for specific isotopic labeling of valine, leucine and isoleucine methyl groups, in proteins and biomolecular assemblies. The invention also concerns a process for analyzing proteins and biomolecular assemblies by NMR spectroscopy including a step of isotopic labeling of amino acids, in particular, valine, leucine and isoleucine, in proteins and biomolecular assemblies to be analyzed by the chiral alpha-hydroxy ketoacid derivatives of the invention. The invention further relates to a kit for isotopic labeling of valine, leucine and isoleucine amino acids, in proteins and biomolecular assemblies including one or more chiral alpha-hydroxy ketoacid derivatives of the invention.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing methylated amines using carbon dioxide and to the use of the method for manufacturing vitamins, pharmaceutical products, glues, acrylic fibres and synthetic leathers, pesticides and fertilisers. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing vitamins, pharmaceutical products, glues, acrylic fibres, synthetic leathers, pesticides and fertilisers, including a step of preparing methylated amines by the method according to the invention. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing marked methylated amines and to the uses thereof.

This invention relates to novel inhibitors of UDP-glucose: N-acyl-sphingosine glucosyltransferase and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering inhibitors of UDP-glucose: N-acyl-sphingosine glucosyltransferase.

The present application discloses compositions and methods of synthesis and use of .sup.18F- or .sup.19F-labeled molecules of use in PET, SPECT and/or MR imaging. Preferably, the .sup.18F or .sup.19F is conjugated to a targeting molecule by formation of a complex with a group IIIA metal and binding of the complex to a bifunctional chelating agent, which may then be directly or indirectly attached to the targeting molecule. In other embodiments, the .sup.18F or .sup.19F labeled moiety may comprise a targetable construct used in combination with a bispecific antibody to target a disease-associated antigen. The disclosed methods and compositions allow the simple and reproducible labeling of molecules at very high efficiency and specific activity in 30 minutes or less. In preferred embodiments, the bifunctional chelating agent bound to .sup.18F- or .sup.19F-metal complex may be conjugated to the molecule to be labeled at a reduced temperature, e.g. room temperature.

The invention relates to a method for the purification of L-hercynine. Said method for the purification of L-hercynine, from a reaction mixture resulting from the reaction of L-histidine, in controlled pH conditions, with a methylating agent Me X in a polar solvent or a mixture of polar solvents, at room temperature, is characterised in that it comprises at least one step of separating the organic products from the inorganic salts formed during the reaction by electrodialysis. This method allows the L-hercynine losses to be limited during the purification.

Alkylphosphocholine analogs incorporating a chelating moiety that chelates a radioactive metal isotope are disclosed herein. The alkylphophocholine analogs, which can be used to treat or detect solid tumors, have the formula:

##STR00001##

R.sub.1 includes a chelating agent that is chelated to a metal atom, wherein the metal atom is a positron or single photon emitting metal isotope with a half life of greater than or equal to 4 hours, or an alpha, beta or Auger emitting metal isotope with a half life of greater than 6 hours and less than 30 days; a is 0 or 1; n is an integer from 12 to 30; m is 0 or 1; Y is —H, —OH, —COOH, —COOX, —OCOX, or —OX, wherein X is an alkyl or an arylalkyl; R.sub.2 is —N.sup.+H.sub.3, —N.sup.+H.sub.2Z, —N.sup.+HZ.sub.2, or —N.sup.+Z.sub.3, wherein each Z is independently an alkyl or an aroalkyl; and b is 1 or 2.

Compounds of formula I, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds are set forth. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.

##STR00001##