**Introduction to 18O-Formaldehyde** 18O-Formaldehyde is a stable isotope-labeled compound where the oxygen atom in formaldehyde (CH₂O) is replaced with the oxygen-18 (¹⁸O) isotope. This isotopically enriched form of formaldehyde is widely used in scientific research, particularly in mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and metabolic studies. The incorporation of ¹⁸O allows for precise tracking and analysis of chemical reactions, metabolic pathways, and molecular interactions, making it an invaluable tool in biochemistry, environmental science, and pharmaceutical research. Its high isotopic purity ensures accurate and reliable results, enabling researchers to gain deeper insights into complex biological and chemical processes. 18O-Formaldehyde is a critical reagent for advanced isotopic labeling applications.
Preparation Process: To prepare **18O-formaldehyde**, start with **paraformaldehyde** and **H218O** (97% enrichment). Dissolve 1 g of paraformaldehyde in 10 mL of H218O under nitrogen atmosphere. Heat the mixture at **60–70°C** for **4–6 hours** with stirring to ensure complete depolymerization and isotopic exchange. After cooling, remove excess H218O by **lyophilization** or **rotary evaporation** under reduced pressure. The resulting **18O-formaldehyde** can be stored as an aqueous solution or further purified by **distillation** under inert conditions. Confirm isotopic enrichment using **mass spectrometry** or **NMR spectroscopy**. Handle with care due to formaldehyde's toxicity.
Usage Scenarios: 18O-formaldehyde is a stable isotope-labeled compound primarily used in biochemical and biomedical research. It serves as a tracer in metabolic studies to investigate formaldehyde metabolism and detoxification pathways. The 18O label enables precise tracking of formaldehyde incorporation into biomolecules, aiding in the study of DNA-protein crosslinks and epigenetic modifications like DNA methylation. It is also employed in mass spectrometry-based assays for quantitative analysis of formaldehyde-derived adducts. Additionally, 18O-formaldehyde is utilized in environmental research to trace formaldehyde sources and degradation mechanisms. Its isotopic label ensures minimal interference with natural biological processes, making it valuable for mechanistic studies in toxicology and molecular biology.