Synthesis of nitrogen isotopologues for pharmaceutical research

This technology is a one-pot, cost-effective method for replacing nitrogen with heavy nitrogen that can be used to track changes in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and other systems.

Unmet Need: Inexpensive method to track nitrogen in molecules

Nitrogen is found in most molecules, and tracking it can provide information about the behavior of a system. By replacing nitrogen with an isotopologue, the dynamics of systems ranging from pharmaceutical to environmental can be studied over time. However, most methods of replacing nitrogen with its more trackable isotopolog are difficult, ineffective, and expensive.

The Technology: One-pot synthesis of trackable nitrogen isotopologues

This one-pot synthesis method uses commercially available materials to replace nitrogen with the stable heavy nitrogen isotope ¹⁵N. This reaction uses photoredox catalysis and shows high yields among various different amine classes.

Applications:

• Research tool for pharmaceuticals including drug pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability
• Drug development
• Hyperpolarization NMR standards
• Environmental monitoring

Advantages:

• Simple, one-pot synthesis
• Uses common commercially-available materials
• Cost-effective

Lead Inventor:

Tomislav Rovis, Ph.D.

Related Publications:

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU23020
• Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel