(125)I-Tetrazines and Inverse-Electron-Demand Diels-Alder Chemistry: A Convenient Radioiodination Strategy for Biomolecule Labeling, Screening, and Biodistribution Studies.

A convenient method to prepare radioiodinated tetrazines was developed, such that a bioorthogonal inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction can be used to label biomolecules with iodine-125 for in vitro screening and in vivo biodistribution studies. The tetrazine was prepared by employing a high-yielding oxidative halo destannylation reaction that concomitantly oxidized the dihydrotetrazine precursor. The product reacts quickly and efficiently with trans-cyclooctene derivatives. Utility was demonstrated through antibody and hormone labeling experiments and by evaluating products using standard analytical methods, in vitro assays, and quantitative biodistribution studies where the latter was performed in direct comparison to Bolton-Hunter and direct iodination methods. The approach described provides a convenient and advantageous alternative to conventional protein iodination methods that can expedite preclinical development and evaluation of biotherapeutics.

Design and synthesis of [(125)I]Pyricoxib: A novel (125)I-labeled cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the key enzyme in the prostaglandin synthesis pathway which is involved in various pathophysiological conditions. The enzyme is membrane bound and located inside of the endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane. Effective perfusion of inhibitors to the active site requires lipophilic drugs, which consequently display high unspecific background accumulation, for example, in fatty tissues. The objective of this work was the development of a small molecule radiolabeled with a long-lived iodine radioisotope to enable longer imaging times and better target-to-background ratios. A group of iodinated compounds (8-10) was synthesized and identified as selective COX-2 inhibitors (COX-2 IC50=0.85-13 µM). Molecular docking results provided the theoretical support for the experimental COX-2 inhibition data. Furthermore, a novel (125)I-containing trifluoro-pyrimidine compound ([(125)I]Pyricoxib) was prepared via radioiododestannylation reaction as potent and selective COX-2 inhibitor. Radiosynthesis of [(125)I]Pyricoxib was accomplished with innovative fluorous chemistry using fluorous chloroamine-T (F-CAT) as novel oxidizing agent in high radiochemical yields of 91 ± 4%.

Fluorous Analogue of Chloramine-T: Preparation, X-ray Structure Determination, and Use as an Oxidant for Radioiodination and s-Tetrazine Synthesis.

A fluorous oxidant that can be used to introduce radioiodine into small molecules and proteins and generate iodinated tetrazines for bioorthogonal chemistry has been developed. The oxidant was prepared in 87% overall yield by combining a fluorous amine with tosyl chloride, followed by chlorination using aqueous sodium hypochlorite. A crystal structure of the oxidant, which is a fluorous analogue of chloramine-T, was obtained. The compound was shown to be stable for 7 days in EtOH and for longer than three months as a solid. The oxidant was effective at promoting the labeling of arylstannanes using [(125)I]NaI, where products were isolated in high specific activity in yields ranging from 46% to 86%. Similarly, iodinated biologically active proteins (e.g., thrombin) were successfully produced, as well as a radioiodinated tetrazine, through a concomitant oxidation-halodemetalation reaction. Because of its fluorous nature, unreacted oxidant and associated reaction byproducts can be removed quantitatively from reaction mixtures by passing solutions through fluorous solid phase extraction cartridges. This feature enables rapid and facile purification, which is critical when working with radionuclides and is similarly beneficial for general synthetic applications.

A hybrid solid-fluorous phase radioiodination and purification platform.

A new class of fluorous materials was developed to create a hybrid solid-solution phase strategy for the expedient preparation and HPLC-free purification of (125) I-labeled compounds. The system is referred to as a hybrid platform in that it combines solution phase labeling and fluorous solid-phase purification in one step as opposed to two separate individual processes. Treatment of fluorous arylstannanes coated on fluorous silica with [(125) I]NaI and the appropriate oxidant made it possible to produce and selectively isolate the nonfluorous radiolabeled products in high purity (>98%) free from excess starting material and unreacted radioiodine. Examples included simple aryl and heterocyclic (click) derivatives, known radiopharmaceuticals including meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) and iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), and a new agent with high affinity for prostate-specific membrane antigen. The coated fluorous silica kits are simple to prepare, and reactions can be performed at room temperature using different oxidants generating products in minutes in biocompatible solutions.