Synthesis of perfluorinated analogs of DOTA and NOTA: bifunctional chelating groups with potential applications in hybrid molecular imaging

The synthesis of novel NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) and DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid) chelating groups bearing perfluorinated appendages is described. DOTA and NOTA groups are used in the production of radiopharmaceutical agents for PET and SPECT imaging (by chelation of radioactive metal ions), as well as MRI contrast agents (by chelation of lanthanide Ln³⁺ ions). The novel perfluorinated variants disclosed herein will enhance the synthesis and purification of such agents, as they are compatible with fluorous purification strategies. Moreover, the perfluorous tag is anticipated to be detectable by ¹⁹F-MRI, suggesting future applications in hybrid molecular imaging such as PET–MRI.     

Chelators for radioimmunotherapy: I. NMR and ab initio calculation studies on 1,4,7,10-tetra(carboxyethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (DO4Pr) and 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-10-(carboxyethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (DO3A1Pr)

This work describes the modification of the chelating agent 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N' ',N' "-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) to improve the rate of metal loading for radioimmunotherapy applications. Previous ab initio calculations predicted that the compounds 1,4,7,10-tetra(carboxyethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (DO4Pr) and 1,4,7-tris(carboxymethyl)-10-(carboxyethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (DO3A1Pr) have a ca. 2000-fold improvement in yttrium metal loading rates compared to those of DOTA (Jang, Y. H.; Blanco, M.; Dasgupta, S.; Keire, D. A.; Shively, J. E.; Goddard, W. A., III. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 6142-6151). In this study, we report the synthesis, purification, (1)H-NMR chemical shift assignments, pK(a) values, metal loading rate measurements, and additional ab initio calculations of these two compounds. The yttrium loading rates of DO3A1Pr are approximately twice those of DOTA, at pH 4.6 and 37 degrees C. The NMR data indicates that the DO4Pr analogue forms a stable type I complex but does not form a type II complex. The new ab initio calculations performed on DO4Pr and DO3A1Pr indicate that the rate-determining step is the deprotonation of the first macrocycle amine proton, not the second proton as assumed in the previous calculations. The new calculations predict an improvement in the rate of metal loading that more closely matches the experimentally observed change in the rate.     

Lanthanide(III) complexes of DOTA-glycoconjugates: a potential new class of lectin-mediated medical imaging agents

The synthesis and characterization of a new class of DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) monoamide-linked glycoconjugates (glucose, lactose and galactose) of different valencies (mono, di and tetra) and their Sm(III), Eu(III) and Gd(III) complexes are reported. The 1H NMR spectrum of Eu(III)-DOTALac2 shows the predominance of a single structural isomer of square antiprismatic geometry of the DOTA chelating moiety and fast rotation about the amide bond connected to the targeting glycodendrimer. The in vitro relaxivity of the Gd(III)-glycoconjugates was studied by 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD), yielding parameters close to those reported for other DOTA monoamides. The known recognition of sugars by lectins makes these glycoconjugates good candidates for medical imaging agents (MRI and gamma scintigraphy).     

Chemistry of bifunctional photoprobes. 6. Synthesis and characterization of high specific activity metalated photochemical probes: development of novel rhenium photoconjugates of human serum albumin and fab fragments

Functionalization of perfluoro aryl azides by bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) capable of forming high specific activity complexes with (99m)Tc (for gamma-imaging) and (188)Re (for radiotherapy) is described. The synthesis of multidonor BFCAs containing N(2)S(2), N(4), and N(3)S donor groups containing imidazole, pyridine, and pyrazine functionalities that may be important for tuning the pharmacokinetic parameters is also described. Functionalization of perfluoro aryl azides at various sites on BFCAs yields novel bifunctional photolabile chelating agents (BFPCAs) that are useful for covalent attachment to biomolecules. A representative Re-BFPCA 8a in a model solvent, diethylamine, proceeded to give a high yield of intermolecular NH insertion product without the decomplexation of the metal ion from 8a. All products originated from the photolysis of 8a in diethylamine are characterized by analytical techniques, and a plausible mechanism of formation of different photolytic products is suggested. The high yield of intermolecular NH insertion of Re-BFPCA 8a is extended to labeling of human serum albumin (HSA) and Fab fragments under aqueous conditions. The photolabeling technology developed here offers a new way to attach diagnostically and therapeutically useful radiotracers (e.g., (99m)Tc, (188)Re) to Fab fragments for potential noninvasive imaging and therapy of cancer.     

Synthesis and Characterization of α-Hexadecyl-DOTA and its Gd(III) Chelate

Introduction Recent interest in polyazamacrocyclic paramagnetic Gd(III) chelates largely results form their clinical appli-cation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. The ligand DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodo- decane-N,N',N',N'-tetraacetic acid) forms one of the most thermodynamically stable and kinetically inert complexes with the trivalent lanthanide cations of any known chelate. These properties make Gd-DOTA one of the most effective and the safest MRI contrast …     

Tissue distribution and urinary excretion of intravenously administered chemically functionalized graphene oxide sheets

The design of graphene-based materials for biomedical purposes is of great interest. Graphene oxide (GO) sheets represent the most widespread type of graphene materials in biological investigations. In this work, thin GO sheets were synthesized and further chemically functionalized with DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid), a stable radiometal chelating agent, by an epoxide opening reaction. We report the tissue distribution of the functionalized GO sheets labeled with radioactive indium (¹¹¹In) after intravenous administration in mice. Whole body single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging, gamma counting studies, Raman microscopy and histological investigations indicated extensive urinary excretion and predominantly spleen accumulation. Intact GO sheets were detected in the urine of injected mice by Raman spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and electron diffraction. These results offer a previously unavailable pharmacological understanding on how chemically functionalized GO sheets transport in the blood stream and interact with physiological barriers that will determine their body excretion and tissue accumulation.     

Formation kinetics and stability studies on the lanthanide complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid by capillary electrophoresis

In this study, the kinetic behaviors of four lanthanide ions, Sm(3+), Dy(3+), Yb(3+) and Lu(3+), when mixed with a polyazamacrocyclic chelating agent 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), were investigated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in the pH range of 2.0-6.0. At pH 2.0, the formation rate of DOTA-metal complex is extremely low as very little complex was detected after 5 days reaction, whereas almost no free DOTA was found in the mixture of metal ion and DOTA after 4 min at pH 6.0. The second-order kinetic association rate constants of the four lanthanide ions chelates at pH 4.2 were calculated as 1.44 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1), 5.20 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1), 4.56 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1) and 4.54 x 10(-2) mM(-1)min(-1) at 25 degrees C with CE, respectively. In addition, the stability constants of the four lanthanide ions with DOTA were determined by CE at pH 3.0 where approximately 80-90% of the metal ions were associated with DOTA at 25 degrees C. The measured stability constants (log K(f)) of the four DOTA-metal complexes were 23.36, 23.93, 23.39 and 23.06, respectively, and correlated well with published data obtained by different methods. The percentage of metal ion bound with DOTA was evaluated as a function of reactant concentration in pH 6.0 buffer. After adding excess strong acid (0.1 M HCl) to each solution of DOTA-metal was formed at pH 6.0, no released DOTA was detected after 24 h; thus, dissociation of these lanthanide complexes did not occur under strongly acidic conditions. The Ln(DOTA)(-) species for the four DOTA-metal complexes were characterized by electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and the results correlated with proposed structures.     

DOTAGA–Anhydride: A Valuable Building Block for the Preparation of DOTA‐Like Chelating Agents

A DOTA derivative that contains an anhydride group was readily synthesized by reacting DOTAGA with acetic anhydride and its reactivity was investigated. Opening the anhydride with propylamine led to the selective formation of one of two possible regioisomers. The structure of the obtained isomer was unambiguously determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including COSY, HMBC, and NOESY techniques. This bifunctional chelating agent offers a convenient and attractive approach for labeling biomolecules and, more generally, for the synthesis of a large range of DOTA derivatives. The scope of the reaction was extended to prepare DOTA‐like compounds that contained various functional groups, such as isothiocyanate, thiol, ester, and amino acid moieties. This versatile building block was also used for the synthesis of a bimodal tag for SPECT or PET/optical imaging.     

Modular Synthesis of DOTA-Metal-Based PSMA-Targeted Imaging Agents for MRI and PET of Prostate Cancer

A practical, convergent synthesis of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) targeted imaging agents for MRI, PET, and SPECT of prostate cancer has been developed. In this approach, metals chelated to 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) were placed on the side chains of lysine early in the synthesis to form imaging modules. These are coupled to targeting modules, in this case consisting of the PSMA-binding urea DCL, bonded to an activated linker. The modular approach to targeted molecular imaging agents (TMIAs) offers distinct advantages. By chelating the MRI contrast metal Gd early, it doubles as a protecting group for DOTA. Standard coupling and deprotection steps may be utilized to assemble the modules into peptides, and the need for tri-tert-butyl protection of DOTA requiring removal by strong acid is averted. This enables mild conjugation of the imaging module to a wide variety of targeting agents in the final step. It was further discovered that two labile metals, La³⁺ or Ce³⁺, can be used as placeholders in DOTA during the synthesis, then transmetalated in mild acid by Cu²⁺, Ga³⁺, In³⁺, and Y³⁺, metals used in PET/SPECT. This enables the efficient synthesis of nonradioactive analogues of targeted molecular imaging agents that may be transported or stored until needed. A simple and mild two-step transmetalation, involving de-metalation in dilute acid, followed by rapid chelation of the radioactive metal, may be conveniently performed later at the clinic to provide the TMIAs for PET or SPECT.     

α-十四烷基-DOTA及其钆(Ⅲ)螯合物的合成与表征(英)

Synthesis and characterization of the ligand, [10-(α-tetradecylcarboxymethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid, H₄L] and its Gd(Ⅲ) chelate are described. Protonation constants for H₄L(lgK_i^H = 10.62, 9.50, 4.74, 4.12) and the stability constant for GdL^-(lgK_GdL^-= 24.60) were determined by potentiometric titrations. The results obtained show that the basicity of the ligand is not significantly altered and the ligand still maintains the strong chelating properties of the parent DOTA after introduction of a linear chain tetradecyl group at the acetic side chain of DOTA.     

DOTAGA-anhydride: a valuable building block for the preparation of DOTA-like chelating agents

A DOTA derivative that contains an anhydride group was readily synthesized by reacting DOTAGA with acetic anhydride and its reactivity was investigated. Opening the anhydride with propylamine led to the selective formation of one of two possible regioisomers. The structure of the obtained isomer was unambiguously determined by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, including COSY, HMBC, and NOESY techniques. This bifunctional chelating agent offers a convenient and attractive approach for labeling biomolecules and, more generally, for the synthesis of a large range of DOTA derivatives. The scope of the reaction was extended to prepare DOTA-like compounds that contained various functional groups, such as isothiocyanate, thiol, ester, and amino acid moieties. This versatile building block was also used for the synthesis of a bimodal tag for SPECT or PET/optical imaging.     

On the Synthesis of 1,4,7-Tris(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane

1,4,7-Tris(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane is widely used as an intermediate in the preparation of medically important DO3A and DOTA metal chelators. Despite its commercial availability and importance, the literature describing the preparation and properties of the free base is limited and sometimes unclear. We present herein an efficient synthesis of the hydrobromide salt of 1,4,7-tris(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, characterize this compound spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallographic analysis, describe its simple conversion to the corresponding free base, characterize this compound spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallographic analysis, and make observations on the reactivity of this interesting and useful compound.     

Synthesis, structure and thermal analysis of the gallium complex of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo-dodecane-N,N′,N″,N-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)

As part of our efforts to synthesize gallium bioconjugates based on folic acid and thiamin we have utilized 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo-dodecane-N,N′,N″,N-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) as the chelating ligand for gallium(III). The reaction of gallium chloride with DOTA at room temperature in aqueous solution affords the complex [Ga(HDOTA) · 5.5H₂O] (1), which is characterized by single-crystal X-ray spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry and thermal gravimetric analysis. Gallium displays 6-coordinate distorted octahedral geometry within a puckered macrocyclic DOTA framework. The equatorial plane comprises two nitrogens of the DOTA ring and two oxygens from two of the four pendant carboxylic acid groups. The axial positions are comprised of the remaining two transannular nitrogens of the DOTA ring.     

Synthesis and Characterization of α-Hexadecyl-DOTA and its Gd（Ⅲ） Chelate

Synthesis and characterization of the ligand, 10-(α-hexadecylcarboxymethyl)- 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (H4L), and its Gd(Ⅲ) chelate are described. Protonation constants for H4L ( lg Ki^H = 10.52, 9.45,4.74, 4.10) and the stability constant for GdL^-(lg KGdL^-=24.50) were determined by potentiometric titrations.The results obtained show that the ligand still maintains the strong chelating properties of the parent DOTA(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N‘,N“N′“-tetraacetic acid) after introduction of a linear chain hexadecyl group at the acetic side chain of DOTA, and its basicity is not significantly altered.     

SYNTHESIS OF 1,4,7,10-TETRA-N-ALKYL-1,4,7,10-TETRAAZA-CYCLODODECANES

ABSTRACT

We report a concise method for the preparation of 1,4,7,10-tetra-N-alkyl-1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododecanes via deprotonation to the fourfold lithium amide followed by alkylation with alkyl bromides. The procedure circumvents the problem of ammonium salt formation and provides direct access to hydrophobic 1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododecanes in moderate yield. The so obtained hydrophobic macrocycles were converted into the corresponding zinc(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes, that may be used as water stable Lewis-acids in catalysis and anion extraction.     

Labeling of a bifunctional monophosphinic acid DOTA analogue with <Superscript>111</Superscript>In: Radiochemical aspects and preclinical results

The complex formation of the bifunctional monophosphinic acid DOTA analogue DO3AP^ABn (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-4,7,10-triacetic-1-{methyl[(4-aminophenyl)methyl] phosphinic acid}) with ¹¹¹In at a tracer level was analyzed. Formation of a complex between ¹¹¹In and DO3AP^ABn was very rapid even at room temperature and high radiolabeling yields were achieved. As introducing the methylphosphinic acid arm to the DOTA structure generated a chiral centre, more than one peak (probably corresponding to various diastereoisomers) of ¹¹¹In-DO3AP^ABn were separated on HPLC. Four peaks were separated by HPLC, they probably correspond to four diastereoisomers of ¹¹¹In-DO3AP^ABn originating from combination of chirality of complexes of DOTA-like ligands with chirality of coordinated phosphorus atom. Studies in rats showed rapid elimination of radioactivity from the blood and other organs and tissues. The results indicate that DO3AP^ABn represents a promising ligand for radiolabeling of target-specific biomolecules with radiometals.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of 1,4,7,10-Tetrakis （2-（（4-hydroxy）phenoxy）ethyl）-1,4,7,10- tetraazacyclododecane

A novel molecule tetra-N-alkylation of cyclen （1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane）, 1,4,7,10-tetrakis（2-（（4-hydroxy）phenoxy）ethyl）-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane 2, was synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecule turned into chiral helical compound crystals grown from EtOH by slow diffusion at room temperature and three of the four hydroquinone groups of the benzene ring formed a g-electron-rich cavity by C-H…π stacking interaction. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P21/C with a = 13.9192（9）, b = 13.2871（6）, c = 22.1894（15）A^°, β = 91.4600（10）°, V = 4102.5（4）A^°3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.219 g/cm^3, C40H52N4O8, Mr = 752.89, F（000） = 1616,μ = 0.088 mm^-1, MoKa radiation （λ = 0.71073）, R = 0.0578 and wR = 0.1389 for 5588 observed reflections with I 〉 2σ（I）. Moreover, compound 2 was characterized with ^1H NMR, ^13C NMR, IR spectra and MS.     

Tuning Glutamine Binding Modes in Gd‐DOTA‐Based Probes for an Improved MRI Visualization of Tumor Cells

Three new magnetic resonance imaging probes that target glutamine transporters have been synthesized. They consist of a Gd‐DOTA‐monoamide moiety (DOTA=1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid) linked through a six carbon atom chain to a vector represented by a glutamine residue bound through α‐carboxylic, γ‐carboxamidic, or α‐amino functionalities. Their uptake by HTC (rat hepatocarcinoma) and healthy rat hepatocytes has shown that the system containing the glutamine vector bound through the α‐carboxylic group displays a markedly higher affinity for tumor cells. The observed behavior is rationalized in terms of the exploitation of an additional glutamine transporter active in hepatic tumor cells.     

Ion-pair interactions of lanthanide(III) complexes in aqueous solutions

The formation of ion-pair adducts between the cationic complex La(THP)3+ (THP = 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) and the anionic complexes Tm(DOTA)- (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetate), Tm(DTPA)2- (DTPA = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N",N"-pentaacetate), Tm(TTHA)3- (TTHA = triethylenetetraamine-N,N,N',N",N"',N"'-hexaacetate), and Tm(DOTP)5- (DOTP = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetrakis(methylenephosphonate)) is examined by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The induced 13C shifts of the La(THP)3+ complex are followed by titration of the Tm(III) complexes of DOTA, DTPA, and TTHA at pH 7. From these data, the stability constants are calculated to be beta 1 = 64 M-1 (1:1), beta 1 = 296 M-1 (1:1), and beta 2 = 26,000 M-2 (2:1) for the ion pairs of La(THP)3+, with Tm(DOTA)-, Tm(DTPA)2-, and Tm(TTHA)3-, respectively. The La(THP)3+,Tm(DOTP)5- system elicits chiral resolution of the rapidly interconverting Tm(DOTP)5- isomers.     

Spectral properties of pro-multimodal imaging agents derived from a NIR dye and a metal chelator

Monomolecular multimodal imaging agents (MOMIAs) are able to provide complementary diagnostic information of a target diseased tissue. We developed a convenient solid-phase approach to construct two pro-MOMIAs (before incorporating radiometal) derived from 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and cypate, a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye analogous to indocyanine green (ICG). The possible interaction between d orbitals of transition metal DOTA complexes or free metals and the p orbitals of cypate chromophore could quench the fluorescence of pro-MOMIAs. However, we did not observe significant changes in the spectral properties of cypate upon conjugation with DOTA and subsequent chelation with metals. The fluorescence intensity of the chelated and nonmetal-chelated PRO-MOMIAs remained fairly the same in dilute 20% aqueous dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution (1 x 10(-6) M). Significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity of pro-MOMIAs occurred in the presence of a large excess of metal ions (>1 molar ratio for indium and 20-fold for a copper relative to pro-MOMIA). This study suggests the feasibility of using MOMIAs for combined optical and radioisotope imaging.