Aromatic amino acids such as l-phenylalanine, l-tryptophan, 3',4'-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA), and their derivatives 3',4'-dihydroxyphenylacelaldehyde (DOPAL) and 3',4'-dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET), play an essential role in human metabolic processes. Incorrect or slow biotransformation of these compounds leads to some metabolic dysfunctions and in some cases to some neurodegenerative diseases
The synthesis of four selectively labeled isotopomers of L-tyrosine, (L-Tyr), using chemical and enzymatic methods is reported. Four tritium labeled isotopomers of L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) – [2-3H]-, [2′,6′-3H2]-, [3R-3H]- and [3S-3H]- have been synthesized using a combination of chemical and enzymatic methods. The labeled isotopomers of L-Phe have been converted into [2 -3H]-, [2′,6′-3H2]-, [3R-3H]-