A practical preparative scale synthesis of d/l‐6‐fluorodopa

Abstract
A practical preparative scale synthesis of D/L‐6‐fluorodopa (6‐FD) is presented. From veratric acid the procedure affords D/L‐6‐FD in 12% overall yield in 11 steps. Useful batch quantities ( > 300 mg) of this material were readily obtained and used as an analytical standard for 19F NHR and HPLC analyses in the preparation of L‐[18F]6‐fluorodopa.