Radio-labelling of 1-O-alkyl, 2-O-acetyl, sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, 1-O-(9,10-di3H)-octadecyl PAF-acether.

3H-labelling of 1-3H-PAF-aceter was prepared by catalytic reduction of 1-O-(9,10)-octadecenyl-2-O-benzyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine and then acetylated. 5 mumoles of this dehydro derivative dissolved in methanol was treated during 4 hours with tritium gas (80 Ci) and compressed until 1.1 bar by an automatic tritium transfer unit [1]. The catalyst was removed by filtration over Millex (Millipore) and labile tritium atoms eliminated by rotatory flash evaporation. The chemical purity was checked by 3H scanning and autoradiography. It was finally recovered through preparative thin-layer chromatography and then acetylated. The specific radioactivity was found to be close to 40-50 Ci/mmole.