Synthesis of [3′-14C] coenzyme Q10

Radio-labelled coenzyme Q10, labelled at the 3′-position with 14C, was synthesized starting from natural solanesol and ethyl [3-14C] acetoacetate. The radiochemical yield was 8.0% from ethyl [3-14C] acetoacetate. The specific radioactivity of the product was 44.8 μCi, 1.66 MBq/mg. The specific radioactivity and radiochemical purity are sufficiently high to enable us to use this labelled form of coenzyme Q10 in metabolic studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.