The Park nucleotide is an important biological building block used in the construction of bacterial cell walls. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a radiolabeled Park nucleotide analog, p-iodophenoxyacyl-Ala-(d)-iso-Glu-Lys-(d)-Ala-(d)-Ala-OH-[123I], using electrophilic destannylation. Anti-Park nucleotide antibody binding assays using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system showed good recognition of the radiolabeled surrogate. This methodology could be used for establishing a screen to identify inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.