Method of synthesizing enriched decaborane for use in generating boron neutron capture therapy pharmaceuticals

摘要

A method is described for synthesizing decaborane wherein at least about 90% of the boron atoms in the decaborane are the 10B isotope, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting boric acid with a C1 to C10 alkanol to form a 10B-alkyl borate wherein at least about 90% of the boron atoms in the boric acid are the 10B isotope; (b) reducing the 10B-alkyl borate to form an alkali metal 10B-borohydride; (c) converting the alkali metal 10B-borohydride to a 10B-tetradecahydroundecaborate ion; and (d) converting the 10B-tetradecahydroundecaborate ion to 10B-decaborane. Methods of preparing tetradecahydroundecaborate ions and decaborane from alkali metal borohydrides are also described.