Synthesis and biologic distribution of mercapto derivatives of palmitic acid.

Mercapto derivatives of palmitic acid are capable of binding 99mTc. Based on the hypothesis that 99mTc-labeled palmitic acid derivatives would behave biologically like palmitic acid and thus could be used as myocardial imaging agents, three mercaptopalmitic acid derivatives have been prepared. The synthesis of 2-mercaptopalmitic acid, 2-mercapto-1,16-hexadecanedioic acid, and 16-mercaptopalmitic acid was accomplished by reaction of the corresponding bromo compound with thiourea. The 35S-labeled compounds and [16-14C]palmitic acid were evaluated in rats with a heat-inflicted myocardial infarction to study the effect of the introduction of the mercapto group. The organ distribution of 2-[35S]mercaptopalmitic acid was most similar to that of [16-14C]palmitic acid.