Organic Compound with Potential for X-ray Imaging Applications

[Image: see text] A radiopaque compound, namely, 4,4-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)pentanoic acid, was synthesized by the electrophilic aromatic iodination of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid using sodium iodide and sodium hypochlorite. The active iodines created by hypochlorite were selectively bound to the ortho positions of the diphenolic acid and obtained a tetraiodo compound. Characterization of this iodinated compound was accomplished by routine methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry. The iodine content in the compound was as high as 64% by weight and therefore expected to possess substantial radiopacity. A 5% solution of the compound in dimethyl sulfoxide exhibited radiopacity of 885 ± 7 Hounsfield Units when tested with computed tomography (CT) scanner. In vitro cytotoxicity test performed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay demonstrated that the compound was noncytotoxic to L929 fibroblast cells up to the level of 0.8 mg/mL concentration. Overall results indicate that this highly radiopaque compound has the potential to be used for X-ray imaging in the clinical scenario.