Lysine is of important amino acids. Tritiated L-lysine is used to study the function and metabolism of lysine in vivo. Therefore

it is an important tracer in biochemical research.

The precursor

chloro-lysine was obtained by the reaction of L-lysine hydrochloride with chlorine gas in concentrated hydrochloric acid medium under uv light radiation. Then tritiated L-lysine was prepared by catalysed halogen-tritium exchange.

The specific activity of L(β

γ-

3

H) lysine was 5.9 TBq/mmol (~16Ci/mmol). The radiochemical purity was over 95%.