(18)F-labelled metomidate analogues as adrenocortical imaging agents.

INTRODUCTION: Two- and one-step syntheses of (18)F-labelled analogues of metomidate, such as 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (1), 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (2), 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (3), 3-[(18)F]fluoropropyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (4) and 3-[(18)F]fluoropropyl 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (5) are presented. METHODS: Analogues 1-5 were prepared by a two-step reaction sequence that started with the synthesis of either 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate or 3-[(18)F]fluoropropyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate. These were used as (18)F-alkylating agents in the second step, in which they reacted with the ammonium salt of a 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid. One-step-labelling syntheses of 1, 2 and 5 were also explored. Analogues 1-4 were biologically validated by frozen-section autoradiography and organ distribution. Metabolite analysis was performed for 2 and 3. RESULTS: The radiochemical yield of the two-step synthesis was in the range of 10-29% and that of the one-step synthesis was 25-37%. Using microwave irradiation in the one-step synthesis of 1 and 2 increased the radiochemical yield to 46+/-3% and 79+/-30%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both the frozen-section autoradiography and organ distribution results indicated that analogue 2 has a potential as an adrenocortical imaging agent, having the highest degree of specific adrenal binding and best ratio of adrenal to organ uptake among the compounds studied.

Synthesis of 11C-amides using [11C]carbon monoxide and in situ activated amines by palladium-mediated carboxaminations.

[11C]Carbon monoxide at low concentrations, aryl halides and amines were used in the palladium-mediated synthesis of twenty 11C-amides. In the study several approaches to improve the radiochemical yield were explored. Eight of the selected amides were prepared by in situ activation of the amines using lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and the radiochemical yields of these reactions were improved compared to utilising a previous reported method. In the synthesis of 1-[carbonyl-11C]benzoyl-3-methyl-1H-indole (11) from 3-methyl-1H-indole (25), the corresponding organotin-amine was prepared prior to the acylation reaction. In a typical experiment, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)[carbonyl-11C]acetamide (5) was prepared in 15% radiochemical yield using 4-aminophenol (20) but the yield increased to 63% when the amine was activated by lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide.

[(11)C] Carbon monoxide in selenium-mediated synthesis of (11)C-carbamoyl compounds.

Using either amines, amino alcohols, or alcohols in selenium-mediated synthesis with [(11)C]carbon monoxide, 3 ureas, 6 carbamates, and 1 carbonate were labeled. Tetrabutylammonium fluoride ((TBA)F) was discovered to form a soluble and reactive complex with selenium and drastically increase the radiochemical yields. Of the selected carbamoyl compounds, one was a receptor ligand, one was an enzyme inhibitor, and one was a muscular relaxant pharmaceutical. The (11)C-target compounds were obtained in radiochemical yields ranging from low to almost quantitative and with specific radioactivity up to 1300 GBq/micromol. The radiochemical purity of the final products exceeded 98%. In one case, the corresponding (13)C-substituted compound was produced to verify the position of the (11)C-label. In a typical experiment starting with 16.4 GBq [(11)C]carbon monoxide, 7.0 GBq of LC-purified 5-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-[2-(11)C]-2-one was obtained within 20 min from start of the carbonylation reaction (84% decay-corrected radiochemical yield). The presented approach is an interesting alternative to the use of [(11)C]phosgene in labeling chemistry.