Various methods of preparing formaldehyde-C14 were investigated. Since the primary source of C14 was carbon dioxide, various methods of converting it to formaldehyde were investigated. Later, when methanol-C14 became available, conversion of it to formaldehyde was investigated. The desirability of preparing anhydrous formaldehyde was considered important and the scale of the reaction was limited to the millimole range.

For biochemical studies on the mechanism of action of the plant growth hormone 3-indoleacetic acid (IA), the C14-labeled hormone was prepared. High specific activity was desirable because of the extremely low concentration at which the hormone normally functions. Introduction of the label into the methylene position of the acetic acid side chain seemed preferable because inactivation of the indoleacetic acid may involve decarboxylation. Fixation of C14O2 arising from carboxyl-labeled hormone might lead to confusion in the experiments contemplated.