Rapid synthesis of radiolabeled phenylethanolamine

A method for the rapid synthesis of [14C]-phenylethanolamine (PEOH) amenable to the preparation of [11C]-PEOH was developed under anhydrous conditions. Reaction of benzaldehyde with [14C]-NaCN in the presence of crown ethers in THF yielded [14C]-cyanohydrin which was reduced to [14C]-PEOH with borane in the same solvent. The overall chemical and radiochemical yields were 33%.