Asymmetric Synthesis of Spirocyclic 2-Benzopyrans for Positron Emission Tomography of σ1 Receptors in the Brain.

Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of styrene derivative 6 afforded chiral triols (R)-7 and (S)-7, which were cyclized with tosyl chloride in the presence of Bu2SnO to provide 2-benzopyrans (R)-4 and (S)-4 with high regioselectivity. The additional hydroxy moiety in the 4-position was exploited for the introduction of various substituents. Williamson ether synthesis and replacement of the Boc protective group with a benzyl moiety led to potent σ1 ligands with high σ1/σ2-selectivity. With exception of the ethoxy derivative 16, the (R)-configured enantiomers represent eutomers with eudismic ratios of up to 29 for the ester (R)-18. The methyl ether (R)-15 represents the most potent σ1 ligand of this series of compounds, with a Ki value of 1.2 nM and an eudismic ratio of 7. Tosylate (R)-21 was used as precursor for the radiosynthesis of [18F]-(R)-20, which was available by nucleophilic substitution with K[18F]F K222 carbonate complex. The radiochemical yield of [18F]-(R)-20 was 18%-20%, the radiochemical purity greater than 97% and the specific radioactivity 175-300 GBq/µmol. Although radiometabolites were detected in plasma, urine and liver samples, radiometabolites were not found in brain samples. After 30 min, the uptake of the radiotracer in the brain was 3.4% of injected dose per gram of tissue and could be reduced by coadministration of the σ1 antagonist haloperidol. [18F]-(R)-20 was able to label those regions of the brain, which were reported to have high density of σ1 receptors.

Automation of the radiosynthesis and purification procedures for [18F]Fluspidine preparation, a new radiotracer for clinical investigations in PET imaging of σ(1) receptors in brain.

The radiosynthesis of [(18)F]Fluspidine, a potent σ1 receptor imaging probe for pre-clinical/clinical studies, was implemented on a TRACERlab(TM) FX F-N synthesizer. [(18)F]2 was synthesized in 15 min at 85 °C starting from its tosylate precursor. Purification via semi-preparative RP-HPLC was investigated using different columns and eluent compositions and was most successful on a polar RP phase with acetonitrile/water buffered with NH4OAc. After solid phase extraction, [(18)F]Fluspidine was formulated and produced within 59±4 min with an overall radiochemical yield of 37±8%, a radiochemical purity of 99.3±0.5% and high specific activity (176.6±52.0 GBq/µmol).

Synthesis, characterization, and metabolism studies of fluspidine enantiomers.

The enantiomers of the potent σ1 ligand fluspidine (1) were prepared by using chiral preparative HPLC. Synthesis of racemic tosylate 2 and subsequent separation of enantiomers yielded (R)-2 and (S)-2 in excellent enantiomeric purities. The fluspidine enantiomers (R)-1 and (S)-1 were synthesized from (R)-2 and (S)-2 by nucleophilic substitution with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride, affording (R)-1 with 99.6 % ee and (S)-1 with 96.4 % ee. Tosylates (R)-2 and (S)-2 can also serve as precursors for the radiosynthesis of enantiomerically pure radiotracers [(18) F](R)-1 and [(18) F](S)-1. The absolute configuration of the pure enantiomers was elucidated by comparison of their CD spectra with a calculated CD spectrum of a simplified model compound. In receptor binding studies, both enantiomers displayed very high σ1 receptor affinity and selectivity against the σ2 receptor. (R)-Fluspidine ((R)-1) is the eutomer, with a Ki value of 0.57 nM and a eudysmic ratio of 4. Incubation of (R)-1 and (S)-1 with rat liver microsomes led to the identification of seven and eight metabolites, respectively. Although the S-configured enantiomer formed additional metabolite (S)-1-3, it is metabolically more stable than (R)-1.