Radioiododemercuration: a simple synthesis of 5-[123/125/127I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine.

Through the use of iododemercuration, 5-[123/125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine was synthesized rapidly and with high radiochemical purity from 5-chloromercuri-2'-deoxyuridine. The synthesis of radioiodinated 2'-deoxyuridine was achieved in one step in the presence of Iodogen in 50% yield after isolation by reverse phase high performance column chromatography. The radiochemical purity was greater than 99%. The ease and the absence of any starting material, suggests that radiohalodemercuration may be the method of choice for this and structurally similar compounds.