Nucleophilic aromatic substitution by [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoride at substituted 2-nitropyridines

For the radiofluorination of benzenes and benzene derivatives, the electrophilic reaction with [¹⁸F]F₂ is a very common route. Yet, aromatic nucleophilic substitution (S_NAr) by n.c.a [¹⁸F]fluoride, which can be produced efficiently in high amounts, has been considered to be very desirable. However, to facilitate ¹⁸F-labelling via S_NAr at an electron rich aromatic system, an appropriate leaving group must be present together with an auxiliary group in ortho or para position to the leaving group. An interesting alternative for the auxiliary group is the heteroatom of a heteroaromatic system, for which pyridine is a leading example. Dolci et al. (J Label Compd Radiopharm 42:975–985, 1999) have evaluated the scope of the nucleophilic aromatic fluorination of 2-substituted pyridine rings using the activated K [¹⁸F]F-K₂₂₂ complex. As methyl and methoxy groups are known to enhance the electron density of an aromatic system by the +I and the +M effect, respectively, S_NAr is unlikely to occur. Until now, the effect of these substituents has not been studied towards the ¹⁸F-radiofluorination of substituted 2-nitropyridines by use of [¹⁸F]fluoride. Therefore, we have investigated the effect of methoxy and methyl groups in 2-nitropyridines. The results showed that 3-methoxy-2-nitropyridine and 3-methyl-2-nitropyridine can efficiently be substituted by [¹⁸F]fluoride with high RCY’s (70–89%) in short reaction times (1–30 min) at a reaction temperature of 140 °C. Moreover, 3-methoxy-6-methyl-2-[¹⁸F]fluoropyridine was obtained from the corresponding nitro-precursor in a high yield of 81 ± 1% after 30 min at 140 °C. In case of 2-nitropyridines data indicates the effect of methyl and methoxy groups on S_NAr to be of minor importance.     

Autoradiolysis of the 2-deoxy-2-[<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoro-D-glucose radiopharmaceutical

Summary To control virtually the toxic compounds and to improve quality control of the solution of 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-d-glucose (2-[¹⁸F]FDG), the products of its autoradiolysis were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray mass spectrometric and radiometric detectors (HPLC/MS/RAD), thin layer chromatography on TLC silica plate and HPTLC on amino modified silica plate. Except Kryptofix^™ 2.2.2, glucose and fluoride anion, no by-products and impurities were observed by LC/MS analysis of fresh 2-[¹⁸F]FDG samples. The analysis performed in the time interval of 6 to 48 hours after the end of 2-[¹⁸F]FDG synthesis indicated that the activity of the autoradiolysis products separated by HPLC did not exceed 1.3%. As the main autoradiolysis products of 3.3 ^. 10^-5 to 4.4 ^. 10^-5M 2-[¹⁸F]FDG solution of original specific activity 0.5-1.5 GBq ^. cm^-3 were established: arabinose - 2.8 μM (G= 0.07/100 eV), gluconic and glucuronic acids 1.8-0.5 μM (G =0.01-0.05/100 eV), arabinose and araburonic acids occurred under 0.5 μM concentration at residual glucose contents about 0.14 mM. Radiation chemical yields of active products were calculated from molar activity of 2-[¹⁸F]FDG and the percentage of their activity: 0.5% radiochemical yield of 2-[¹⁸F]fluoroglucuronic acid corresponds to the G = 0.004/100 eV and 0.3% yield of 2-[¹⁸F]fluorogluconic acid issues G = 0.003/100 eV.     

<Superscript>18</Superscript>F- and <Superscript>11</Superscript>C-labelling of quantum dots with n.c.a. [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoroethyltosylate and [<Superscript>11</Superscript>C]methyliodide: a feasibility study

Quantum dots functionalized on the outer surface with either amino- or carboxyl functions were labelled with [¹⁸F]fluoroethyltosylate and [¹¹C]methyliodide in order to use the positron emitter-labelled fluorescence agents for multimodality imaging techniques, i.e. fluorescence imaging and positron emission tomography. ¹⁸F-Labelling of both compounds was realized with yields up to 5% as determined by size exclusion chromatography, which is twice as much as reported in literature before [1]. ¹¹C-Labelling of amino- and carboxyl-QDs proceeded with good yields (up to 45 and 35%, respectively) under optimized reaction conditions. In general for both QD-types and both labelling agents the labelling yield increased with the amount of QDs used in the reaction as well as with reaction time and reaction temperature.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of 2-[18F]fluoro-L-phenylalanine and 2-[18F]fluoro-L-tyrosine by isotopic exchange

2-[(18)F]Fluoro-L-phenylalanine and 2-[(18)F]fluoro-L-tyrosine have been developed as promising radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging using positron emission tomography (PET). However, the lack of a convenient radiosynthetic pathway has limited their practical use. In this work a new three-step nucleophilic synthesis of these compounds starting from [(18)F]fluoride is described. Corresponding precursors (1a and 1b) were (18)F-fluorinated by isotopic exchange, followed by the removal of an activating formyl group with Rh(PPh(3))(3)Cl and subsequent hydrolysis of protecting groups in acidic medium. All reactions were carried out using both conventional and microwave heating. Conventional heated reactions yielded the desired products 2-[(18)F]Fphe and 2-[(18)F]Ftyr in 43% and 49% whereas radiochemical yields of 34% and 43%, respectively, were obtained when they were heated by microwaves. Under optimized conditions the enantiomeric purity was ≥94% for both radiopharmaceuticals.     

One-step conjugation of glycylglycine with [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]FDG and a pilot PET imaging study

This study describes a single step conjugation of Glycylglycine (GlyGly) which is a small peptide, with [¹⁸F]FDG via oxime formation. Amiooxy-functionalization of GlyGly (AO-GlyGly) was accomplished through the reaction of Boc-aminooxy succinimide ester. Conjugation reaction was performed at 100 °C for 30 min in a vial containing AO-GlyGly and [¹⁸F]FDG solution. The radiolabeled product ([¹⁸F]FDG-GlyGly) was obtained with 98.65?±?0.35% yield without any purification step which makes this method more attractive for ¹⁸F radiolabeling. The present study is concluded with an in vivo pilot animal PET study to assess biodistribution and kinetics of chemoselectively [¹⁸F]FDG tagged GlyGly in vivo.     

Synthesis of [18F]Fluoroarenes by Nucleophilic Radiofluorination of N‐Arylsydnones

A practical method for radiofluorination of anilines with [¹⁸F]fluoride via N ‐arylsydnone intermediates is described. These precursors are stable, easy to handle and facilitate direct and regioselective ¹⁸F‐labeling to prepare [¹⁸F]fluoroarenes. The value of this methodology is further highlighted by successful application to prepare an ¹⁸F‐labeled neuropeptide.     

Radiosynthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of the 2-[<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoropropionic acid enantiomers for tumor PET imaging

The aim of this study was to synthesize the optically pure [¹⁸F]FPA, and to investigate the diagnostic value of different isomers. Semi-automated radiosynthesis of R-[¹⁸F]FPA or S-[¹⁸F]FPA was respectively from the chiral precursor (S)- or (R)-ethyl 2-(((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)oxy)propanoate via a two-step reaction and performed on the commercial FDG synthesizer. The improved radiochemical yields of R-[¹⁸F]FPA and S-[¹⁸F]FPA were 30–40% (decay-uncorrected, n = 10) in 35 min. There was no significant difference on the biodistribution of two enantiomers in normal mice (P > 0.05), but positron emission tomography imaging demonstrated that R-[¹⁸F]FPA was more suitable for PC3 tumor imaging than S-[¹⁸F]FPA and [¹⁸F]FDG.     

Fully automated radiosynthesis of [<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]Fluoromisonidazole with single neutral alumina column purification: optimization of reaction parameters

1-H-1-(3-[¹⁸F]fluoro-2-hydroxypropyl)-2-nitroimidazole ([¹⁸F]FMISO), is the most used hypoxia-imaging agent in oncology and we have recently reported a fully automated procedure for its synthesis using the Nuclear Interface FDG module and a single neutral alumina column for purification. Using 1-(2′-nitro-1′-imidazolyl)-2-O-tetra-hydropyranyl-3-O-toluenesulfonylpropanediol (NITTP) as the precursor, we have investigated the yield of [¹⁸F]FMISO using different reaction times, temperatures, and the amount of precursor. The overall yield was 48.4 ± 1.2% (n = 3), (without decay correction) obtained using 10 mg NITTP with the radio-fluorination carried out at 145 °C for 3 min followed by acid hydrolysis for 3 min at 125 °C in a total synthesis time of 32 ± 1 min. Increasing the precursor amount to 25 mg did not improve the overall yield under identical reaction conditions, with the decay uncorrected yield being 46.8 ± 1.6% (n = 3), but rather made the production less economical. It was also observed that the yield increased linearly with the amount of NITTP used, from 2.5 to 10 mg and plateaued from 10 to 25 mg. Radio-fluorination efficiency at four different conditions was also compared. It was also observed by radio thin layer chromatography (radio-TLC) that the duration of radio-fluorination of NITTP, not the radio-fluorination temperature favoured the formation of labeled thermally degraded product, but the single neutral alumina column purification was sufficient enough to obtain [¹⁸F]FMISO devoid of any radiochemical as well as cold impurities.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-[2-[<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]fluoro-3-(2-nitro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazole-1-yl)propyl]tyrosine ([<Superscript>18</Superscript>F]FNT]) as a new class of tracer for imaging hypoxia

For detection of hypoxic tumor tissue, all radiotracers synthesized until now, are based on the concept that cellular uptake is being controlled by diffusion. As a new approach, we chose the concept to have the tracer hypothetically transported into the cells by well known carrier systems like the amino acid transporters. For this purpose, radiosynthesis of O-[2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-3-(2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1yl)propyl]tyrosine ([¹⁸F]FNT]) was carried out from methyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-(4-3-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-(tosyloxy)propoxy) phenyl)propanoate via no-carrier-added nucleophilic aliphatic substitution. After labelling, 81 ± 0.9% of labelled intermediate i.e. methyl 2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-(4-(2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-3-(2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-yl)propoxy) phenyl)propanoate was obtained at 140 °C. At the end of radiosynthesis, [¹⁸F]FNT was obtained in an overall radiochemical yield of 40 ± 0.9% (not decay corrected) within 90 min in a radiochemical purity of >98% in a formulation ready for application in the clinical studies for PET imaging of hypoxia.     

Synthesis of [<Superscript>14</Superscript>C] quincetone

Summary The water-soluble fullerene derivative C₆₀(OH)_x was radiolabeled with ⁶⁷GaCl₃. The labeling yields were determined by radio-PLC. The effects of pH, reaction time, temperature and the amount of C₆₀(OH)_x on the labeling yields were studied. The stability of ⁶⁷Ga-C₆₀(OH)_x was also examined. The results showed that the labeling yields could reach 97% under the best labeling conditions and the radiochemical purity of ⁶⁷Ga-C₆₀(OH)_x solution kept at 37 °C remained at 88% after 212 hours. The biodistribution studies of ⁶⁷Ga-C₆₀(OH)_x in mice showed a high localization of ⁶⁷Ga-C₆₀(OH)_x in the bone marrow, bone, liver and spleen with slow clearance and a negligible accumulation in the blood. These data suggest that the water-soluble C₆₀(OH)_x, having the same properties as microcolloids, may be used as a carrier of drug system for lymphatic targeting.     

Synthesis of <Superscript>14</Superscript>C analogue of 1,2-diaryl-[2-<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]-pyrroles

Three 1,2-diaryl pyrroles selective COX-2 inhibitors, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-methyl-1-(4-methylsulfonyl-phenyl)-1H pyrrole, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-[4-(methylsulfonyl) phenyl]-1H-pyrrole and 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]benzenesulfon-amide, all three labeled with ¹⁴C in the 2-position were prepared from para-fluoro-benzaldehyde-[carbonyl-¹⁴C].     

Hydrogenolysis of 7-phenyltricyclo[4.1.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]heptan-1-carboxylic acid. Synthesis of ketones with tricyclo[4.4.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]decane and tricyclo[5.4.0.0<Superscript>2,8</Superscript>]undecane skeletons

Hydrogenation of 7-phenyltricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]heptane-1-carboxylic acid over Raney nickel occurred in the syn-stereoselective fashion to give anti-7-phenylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane-exo-6-carboxylic acid. The latter was used to synthesize 4,5-benzotricyclo[4.4.0.0^2,7]dec-4-en-3-one and two isomeric higher homologs, 5,6-benzotricyclo[5.4.0.0^2,8]undec-5-en-3-and-4-ones.     

Crystal structure of two polymorphs of molybdenyl salicylidene-2-furfuriliminate (HL<Superscript>1</Superscript>) [MoO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(L<Superscript>1</Superscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

The crystal structures of two polymorphs of molybdenyl salicylidene-2-furfuryliminate [MoO₂(L¹)₂] have been solved by X-ray diffraction. Both complexes crystallize in centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric space groups (P2₁/c and Р2₁, respectively) of monoclinic system and have similar structures and close geometric parameters. The Мо atoms have a distorted octahedral coordination to two terminal oxo ligands in cis-positions to each other and two pairs of the oxygen atoms (cis- to О(oxo)) and the nitrogen atoms (trans- to О(oxo)) of two bidentate chelate ligands (L¹)^–.     

Thermodynamics of ion exchange of H<Superscript>+</Superscript> by Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> or NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> on ion-exchange resins based on <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene

The corrected selectivity coefficients of the ion exchange H⁺-Na⁺ and H⁺-NH₄ ⁺ on ion-exchange resins based on C-tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene were calculated from the experimental data obtained from studying ion-exchange equilibria. The preference of the ion-exchange resins for cations increases in the sequence: Na⁺ < NH₄ ⁺ < < H⁺, and the ion-exchange resin based on (2-furyl)hydroxymethyltetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene has a higher preference for ammonium cations. According to the results of microcalorimetric measurements, the exchange H⁺-Na⁺ on this ion-exchange resin is accompanied by the highest change in the differential enthalpy. It follows from the quantum-chemical calculations that the introduction of a (2-furyl)hydroxymethyl group into the structure of the polymer induces additional electrostatic interactions between an ammonium cation and an elementary unit of the ion-exchange resin.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2560–2563, December, 2004.     

Thermodynamics of citrate complexation with Mn<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Ni<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions

Isothermal titration calorimetry has been used to determine the stoichiometry, formation constants and thermodynamic parameters (ΔG ^o, ΔH, ΔS) for the formation of the citrate complexes with the Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions. The measurements were run in Cacodylate, Pipes and Mes buffer solutions with a pH of 6, at 298.15 K. A constant ionic strength of 100 mM was maintained with NaClO₄. The influence of a metal ion on its interaction energy with the citrate ions and the stability of the resulting complexes have been discussed.     

Glycosylation of Bovine Serum Albumin with D-[<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]-Glucose

Certain parameters of the Maillard reaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and D-[¹⁴C]-glucose were investigated.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 275–277, May–June, 2005.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of EnH<Superscript>2</Superscript>[IrCl<Superscript>6</Superscript>]

The preparation of EnH²[IrCl⁶] is described. Crystal data for C₂H₁₀Cl₆IrN₂ are: a = 6.8972(11) Å, b = 6.9435(16) Å, c = 7.3354(11) Å; α = 88.269(3)°, β = 65.495(2)°, γ = 60.305(2)°, V = 270.76(9) ų, space group P1, Z = 1, d_calc = 2.864 g/cm³. Crystal chemical analysis of the general motif of the structure was performed by the translation sublattice identification technique. It has been found that complex anions [IrCl₆]^2? follow the nodes of a rather regular rhombohedral subcell with the parameters a_c = 7.1 Å, α_c = 64°.     

Functionalization of one or two methyl groups in the [Cp*<Subscript>2</Subscript>RuBr]<Superscript>+</Superscript>Br<Superscript>−</Superscript> complex in the reaction with bromine

The reaction of [Cp*₂RuBr]⁺Br⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂ (CD₂Cl₂) in an inert atmosphere at room temperature produces the complexes [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₄CH₂Br]⁺Br₃ ⁻ (syn conformer), [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₃(CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn and anti conformers), and [Ru(Br)(C₅Me₄CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn conformer). All complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; the former complex, by elemental analysis. These complexes were also prepared by the reaction of [Cp*RuC₅Me₄CH₂]⁺BF₄ ⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2712–2718, December, 2005.     

A facile preparation of ammonium [<Superscript>14</Superscript>C]thiocyanate

Summary An attractive and simple method has been developed for the preparation of ammonium [¹⁴C]thiocyanate from [¹⁴C]thiourea which eliminates the necessity of handling highly hazardous potassium [¹⁴C] cyanide. [¹⁴C]thiourea was isomerized to ammonium [¹⁴C]thiocyanate by heating the aqueous solution of thiourea (12%) in a sealed tube at 160 °C for 24 hours. The product formed was purified by silica-gel column chromatography. A radiochemical yield of 92.7% was obtained based on [¹⁴C]thiourea. The specific activity of the product obtained was 53.3 mCi/mmol (1.97 GBq/mmol) and the radiochemical purity was greater than 99%. This method has not been reported so far for the production of this labeled compound.