Methods of preparation of carbon-14 and deuterium labeled N-nitroso-2(3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl) aminoethanols are described. The primary synthetic method involved alkylation of ethanolamine or ethylglycine with suitable chlorides and subsequent mild nitrosation. Isomeric 14C-nitrosamines were also prepared by selective -cleavage of the di-substituted ethanolamine with nitrous acid.