Capturing aqueous [F]-fluoride with an arylboronic ester for PET: Synthesis and aqueous stability of a fluorescent [F]-labeled aryltrifluoroborate

The aqueous stability of aryltrifluoroborates is of importance to their use in transition metal mediated coupling reactions as well as their potential use in [¹⁸F]-labeled aryltrifluoroborate PET imaging agents. Nevertheless, few studies have fully characterized the solvolysis of fluoride from an aryltrifluoroborate in water. Using [¹⁹F] NMR, fluorescence and [¹⁸F]-labeling techniques, we disclose the composition of an aryltrifluoroborate of exceptional kinetic stability with respect to solvolytic defluoridation. This work not only highlights the potential of using [¹⁸F]-labeled aryltrifluoroborates for PET tracers, but provides a chemical platform and a general approach for evaluating the stability of other aryltrifluoroborates.     

Preparation and Evaluation of [18F]AlF-NOTA-NOC for PET Imaging of Neuroendocrine Tumors: Comparison to [68Ga]Ga-DOTA/NOTA-NOC

Background: The somatostatin receptors 1–5 are overexpressed on neuroendocrine neoplasms and, as such, represent a favorable target for molecular imaging. This study investigates the potential of [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-[1-Nal³]-Octreotide and compares it in vivo to DOTA- and NOTA-[1-Nal³]-Octreotide radiolabeled with gallium-68. Methods: DOTA- and NOTA-NOC were radiolabeled with gallium-68 and NOTA-NOC with [¹⁸F]AlF. Biodistributions of the three radioligands were evaluated in AR42J xenografted mice at 1 h p.i and for [¹⁸F]AlF at 3 h p.i. Preclinical PET/CT was applied to confirm the general uptake pattern. Results: Gallium-68 was incorporated into DOTA- and NOTA-NOC in yields and radiochemical purities greater than 96.5%. NOTA-NOC was radiolabeled with [¹⁸F]AlF in yields of 38 ± 8% and radiochemical purity above 99% after purification. The biodistribution in tumor-bearing mice showed a high uptake in tumors of 26.4 ± 10.8 %ID/g for [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTA-NOC and 25.7 ± 5.8 %ID/g for [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-NOTA-NOC. Additionally, [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-NOC exhibited a tumor uptake of 37.3 ± 10.5 %ID/g for [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-NOC, which further increased to 42.1 ± 5.3 %ID/g at 3 h p.i. Conclusions: The high tumor uptake of all radioligands was observed. However, [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-NOC surpassed the other clinically well-established radiotracers in vivo, especially at 3 h p.i. The tumor-to-blood and -liver ratios increased significantly over three hours for [¹⁸F]AlF-NOTA-NOC, making it possible to detect liver metastases. Therefore, [¹⁸F]AlF demonstrates promise as a surrogate pseudo-radiometal to gallium-68.     

A short approach to the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane fragment of stawamycin

The bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane (C₁₁-C₂₁) fragment of stawamycin has been prepared by a sequence involving 11 steps (10% overall yield) from methyl (R)-(−)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate. Key steps are a Pd-catalysed Stille coupling reaction between a vinyl iodide and a vinyl stannane followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction to give the desired adduct as the major isomer in 21% overall yield.     

Clinical Relevance of [18F]Florbetaben and [18F]FDG PET/CT Imaging on the Management of Patients with Dementia

PET of β-Amyloid plaques (Aβ) using [¹⁸F]florbetaben ([¹⁸F]FBB) and [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]FDG) increasingly aid clinicians in early diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and vascular dementia. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate clinical relevance of [¹⁸F]FBB, [¹⁸F]FDG PET and complimentary CSF measurements in patients with suspected dementia. In this study, 40 patients with clinically suspected or history of dementia underwent (1) measurement of Aβ peptides, total tau, and p-tau protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compared with healthy controls (HC); (2) clinical and neuropsychological assessment, which included Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease neuropsychological assessment battery (CERAD-NAB); (3) [¹⁸F]FBB and [¹⁸F]FDG PET imaging within an average of 3 weeks. The subjects were within 15 days stratified using PET, CSF measurements as HC, mild cognitive impaired (MCI) and dementia including Alzheimer´s disease. The predictive dementia-related cognitive decline values were supporting the measurements. PET images were evaluated visually and quantitatively using standard uptake value ratios (SUVR). Twenty-one (52.5%) subjects were amyloid-positive (Aβ+), with a median neocortical SUVR of 1.80 for AD versus 1.20 relative to the respective 19 (47.5 %) amyloid-negative (Aβ-) subjects. Moreover, the [¹⁸F]FDG and [¹⁸F]FBB confirmed within a sub-group of 10 patients a good complimentary role by correlation between amyloid pathology and brain glucose metabolism in 8 out of 10 subjects. The results suggest the clinical relevance for [¹⁸F]FBB combined with [¹⁸F]FDG PET retention and CFS measurements serving the management of our patients with dementia. Therefore, [¹⁸F]FBB combined with [¹⁸F]FDG PET is a helpful tool for differential diagnosis, and supports the patients’ management as well as treatment.     

Improved syntheses of thieno[2,3-b]- and [3,2-b]-fused naphthyridines

The preparation of eight isomeric thieno[2,3-b]- and [3,2-b]-fused naphthyridines [1] was improved through the Pd(0) catalyzed cross-coupling of 3-formyl-4-iodopyridine, 2-formyl-3-iodopyridine, 3-bromo-4-formylpyridine and 2-bromo-3-formylpyridine with t-butyl N-(2-trimethylstannyl-3-thienyl)car-bamate and t-butyl N-(3-trimethylstanny-2-thienyl)carbamate.     

Positron-emitting N-[18F]fluoroalkyl and [18F]fluoropyrrolidinyl analogues of eticlopride as potential in vivo radioligands for dopamine D2 receptors.

N-Fluoroalkyl and 4-fluoropyrrolidinyl eticlopride analogues with high affinity toward central nervous system dopamine D2 receptors in vitro were labelled with positron emitting fluorine-18 (t1/2 = 110 min), and their in vivo biodistribution was investigated in rats. N-[18F]Fluoro-ethyl and -propyl eticlopride derivatives showed poor in vivo selectivity in the rat brain. On the other hand, 4-[18F]fluoropyrrolidinyl eticlopride exhibited almost constant and relatively high striatal concentration. The striatal/cerebellar radioactivity ratio, which corresponds to the ratio of a brain D2 receptor-rich to poor region, gradually increased to 5.2-6.4, 90 min after the injection. The striatal accumulation was selectively inhibited by pre-injection of haloperidol, a dopamine D2 antagonist, without affecting accumulation in other tissues. Thus, the selective striatal accumulation of 4-[18F]fluoropyrrolidinyl eticlopride in striatal tissue appears to be due to the specific binding to dopamine D2 receptors.     

Facile synthesis of TEG-substituted 4-(N-methyl-N-Boc-amino)styrylpyridine and PET imaging agent [F]florbetapir ([F]AV-45)

Triethylene glycol-substituted 4-(N-methyl-N-Boc-amino)styrylpyridine which can serve as key precursor for many monodentate and multidentate imaging agents for Aβ plaques in human brain has been readily synthesized with cost-effective starting materials. The important non-radioactive monodentate positron emission tomography agent [F]florbetapir ([F]AV-45) has also been prepared by our new method.     

[F]Fluoroamines via ring-opening of N-Cbz-2-methylaziridine with [F]-fluoride

A highly regioselective method was developed for ring-opening benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz)-protected 2-methylaziridine with [¹⁸F]-labelled fluoride. Following catalytic hydrogenation, 1-[¹⁸F]fluoro-2-propanamine ([¹⁸F]1) and 2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-1-propanamine ([¹⁸F]2) were prepared as the major and minor products, respectively (85:15), and were characterized following acylation with benzyl chloride. This methodology is applicable towards the generation of new [¹⁸F]-labelled amines for incorporation into radiopharmaceuticals.     

Identification of PET radiometabolites by cytochrome P450, UHPLC/Q-ToF-MS and fast radio-LC: applied to the PET radioligands [11C]flumazenil, [18F]FE-PE2I, and [11C]PBR28

A general method is presented for the identification of radiometabolites in plasma of human and monkey subjects after administration of positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands. The radiometabolites are first produced in vitro, using liver microsomes, subsequently separated using fast radio-liquid chromatography (radio-LC), and individually collected and identified by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry in MS and MS^E mode. Fast radio-LC provided superior resolution compared to conventional radio-LC, resulting in separation of a greater number of metabolites. The radiometabolites produced in vivo are then compared to and identified based on the in vitro results. This approach was applied to three PET radioligands, [¹¹C]flumazenil, [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I, and [¹¹C]PBR28, resulting in the identification of five, two, and one radiometabolites, respectively. This procedure can easily be adopted to identify the radiometabolites produced in vivo from a variety of PET radioligands.     

A practical route for synthesizing a PET ligand containing [F]fluorobenzene using reaction of diphenyliodonium salt with [F]F

The aim of this study was to develop a practical route for preparing a fluorine-18 ([¹⁸F]) labelled ligand ([¹⁸F]1) containing [¹⁸F]fluorobenzene ring by employing the reaction of diphenyliodonium salt with [¹⁸F]F⁻. Diphenyliodonium tosylate (2) was synthesized from tributylphenylstannyl compound (6) with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene (7). Using this method, [¹⁸F]DAA1106 ([¹⁸F]3a), a positron emission tomography ligand for imaging peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, was prepared.     

Synthesis and Preliminary Evaluation of 1-[^18F]Fluoro-1-deoxy-2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol as a PET Radiotracer for Breast Cancer Imaging

1-[^18F]Fluoro-l-deoxy-2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol （3, ^18F-FDAM） has been synthesized in 6 steps starting from 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol （2,5-AM） and evaluated as a new radiotracer for PET imaging of MCF-7 breast tumor. The result of PET imaging study showed that 3 displayed a slightly higher uptake by breast tumor in comparison with the normal breast tissue, implying the possibility of development of PET radiotraeers based on targeting fructose transporters.     

Enantioselective three-component synthesis of 4-arylated dehydroprolines: [3+2] annulation of allenylstannane and α-imino ester

An enantioselective [3+2] annulation reaction of allenylstannane and α-imino ester was developed. Stille coupling of the resulting 4-stannyl dehydroproline gave optically active 4-arylated dehydroprolines in good yields.     

Silicon-based chemistry: an original and efficient one-step approach to [18F]-nucleosides and [18F]-oligonucleotides for PET imaging

Take it eaSi! Nucleosides, dinucleotides, and one oligonucleotide, all modified by click chemistry, have for the first time been directly and very efficiently labeled with (18)F by using a silicon-based, one-step approach that opens the way for the development of a new class of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers (see graphic).     

PET Imaging of Fructose Metabolism in a Rodent Model of Neuroinflammation with 6-[18F]fluoro-6-deoxy-D-fructose

Fluorine-18 labeled 6-fluoro-6-deoxy-D-fructose (6-[¹⁸F]FDF) targets the fructose-preferred facilitative hexose transporter GLUT5, which is expressed predominantly in brain microglia and activated in response to inflammatory stimuli. We hypothesize that 6-[¹⁸F]FDF will specifically image microglia following neuroinflammatory insult. 6-[¹⁸F]FDF and, for comparison, [¹⁸F]FDG were evaluated in unilateral intra-striatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-injected male and female rats (50 µg/animal) by longitudinal dynamic PET imaging in vivo. In LPS-injected rats, increased accumulation of 6-[¹⁸F]FDF was observed at 48 h post-LPS injection, with plateaued uptake (60–120 min) that was significantly higher in the ipsilateral vs. contralateral striatum (0.985 ± 0.047 and 0.819 ± 0.033 SUV, respectively; p = 0.002, n = 4M/3F). The ipsilateral–contralateral difference in striatal 6-[¹⁸F]FDF uptake expressed as binding potential (BP_SRTM) peaked at 48 h (0.19 ± 0.11) and was significantly decreased at one and two weeks. In contrast, increased [¹⁸F]FDG uptake in the ipsilateral striatum was highest at one week post-LPS injection (BP_SRTM = 0.25 ± 0.06, n = 4M). Iba-1 and GFAP immunohistochemistry confirmed LPS-induced activation of microglia and astrocytes, respectively, in ipsilateral striatum. This proof-of-concept study revealed an early response of 6-[¹⁸F]FDF to neuroinflammatory stimuli in rat brain. 6-[¹⁸F]FDF represents a potential PET radiotracer for imaging microglial GLUT5 density in brain with applications in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Efficient radiosynthesis of a [18F]-phosphonium salt containing closo-carborane

An efficient synthesis of an ¹⁸F-labelled phosphonium salt containing closo-carborane is described. The preparation of this salt was attempted using both single-step and two-step protocols, with greater success found for the latter. An X-ray structure for the unlabelled ¹⁹F salt is also presented.

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Synthesis of 3-(4-heteroaryl-phenyl)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylic acid methyl esters

Cross coupling protocols were applied for the synthesis of 3-(4-heteroaryl-phenyl)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid methyl esters. Stille conditions produced the corresponding products in reasonable yields. Samarium iodide reduction of the resulting coupling products produced the 2β-carbomethoxy-3α-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane diastereoisomers as the major, and the 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-aryl-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane diastereoisomer as the minor products. Both diastereomers manifested inhibition of the dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) transporters, with some selectivity for SERT inhibition.     

Design,Synthesis, and Validation of a Novel [11C]Promethazine PET Probe for Imaging Abeta Using Autoradiography

Promethazine, an antihistamine drug used in the clinical treatment of nausea, has been demonstrated the ability to bind Abeta in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. However, so far, all of the studies were performed in vitro using extracted tissues. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of a novel [¹¹C]promethazine PET radioligand for future in vivo studies. The [¹¹C]promethazine was isolated by RP-HPLC with radiochemical purity >95% and molar activity of 48 TBq/mmol. The specificity of the probe was demonstrated using human hippocampal tissues via autoradiography.     

Efficient synthesis of fluorobenzyloxoimidazolidinone derivatives: precursors for the radiosynthesis of [F]fluorophenylamino acids

This paper describes an efficient synthesis of fluorobenzyloxoimidazolidinone derivatives. The title compounds 1a, 1b and 1c could be prepared with high diasteromeric purity (>99%) and overall yields of 19%, 48% and 41% in a ten or six-step synthetic procedure, respectively. These compounds are used as precursors for isotopic ¹⁸F-labelling.     

Symmetric diarylacetylenes: one-pot syntheses and solution photoluminescence

Bis(tri-n-butylstannyl)acetylene was synthesized and used to create a series of symmetric diarylacetylenes via a one-step Stille coupling protocol with Pd(PPh₃)₄ as the catalyst. In many cases, the product simply crystallized in good yields from the reaction mixture upon cooling after reflux at 100 °C or upon removal of solvent. The diarylacetylenes were studied using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, which showed that naphthyl- and biphenyl-substituted acetylenes had very high solution-state fluorescence quantum yields.     

Synthesis and hydrolytic stability of novel 3-[F]fluoroethoxybis(1-methylethyl)silyl]propanamine-based prosthetic groups

Two new silicon-based prosthetic groups, derived from 3-[ethoxybis(1-methylethyl)silyl]propanamine, have been prepared in good yields. These silicon groups bearing an acid or an azide group were coupled to a model tripeptide (Leu-Gly-Gly) either through a classical amide bond formation or through “click chemistry” via the Huisgen cycloaddition. The radiolabelling with fluorine-18 by substitution of the ethoxy group at silicon has been carried out with success in 51-54% decay corrected radiochemical yields. Radiolabelled peptides were easily prepared by direct ¹⁸F-fluorination of the silicon-bearing tripeptide or by coupling the peptide with a radiolabelled silicon-based prosthetic group. Their stabilities in physiological medium were studied and proved poor.