Asymmetric synthesis of L-2-amino[3-11C]butyric acid, L-[3-11C]norvaline and L-[3-11C]valine

The short-lived radionuclide 11C (t1/2 = 20.4 min) has been used in the asymmetric synthesis of L-2-amino[3-11C]butyric acid, L-[3-11C]-norvaline and L-[3-11C]valine. The syntheses were performed by alkylation of [(+)-2-hydroxypinanyl-3-idene]-glycine tert-butyl ester under anhydrous conditions in tetrahydrofuran/1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2-pyrimidinone with lithiated 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine as base, using the appropriate 11C-alkyl iodides prepared in a one-pot reactor from [11C]carbon dioxide. Following removal of the protecting groups, the -[3-11C]amino acids were obtained in 80-82% enantiomeric excess and in 9-25% radiochemical yields, decay corrected and calculated on the basis of the amount of [11C]carbon dioxide at the start of the syntheses within 50-55 min.     

Rapid ‘on-column’ preparation of hydrogen [11C]cyanide from [11C]methyl iodide via [11C]formaldehyde

Hydrogen [¹¹C]cyanide ([¹¹C]HCN) is a versatile ¹¹C-labelling agent for the production of ¹¹C-labelled compounds used for positron emission tomography (PET). However, the traditional method for [¹¹C]HCN production requires a dedicated infrastructure, limiting accessibility to [¹¹C]HCN. Herein, we report a simple and efficient [¹¹C]HCN production method that can be easily implemented in ¹¹C production facilities. The immediate production of [¹¹C]HCN was achieved by passing gaseous [¹¹C]methyl iodide ([¹¹C]CH₃I) through a small two-layered reaction column. The first layer contained an N-oxide and a sulfoxide for conversion of [¹¹C]CH₃I to [¹¹C]formaldehyde ([¹¹C]CH₂O). The [¹¹C]CH₂O produced was subsequently converted to [¹¹C]HCN in a second layer containing hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid. The yield of [¹¹C]HCN produced by the current method was comparable to that of [¹¹C]HCN produced by the traditional method. The use of oxymatrine and diphenyl sulfoxide for [¹¹C]CH₂O production prevented deterioration of the molar activity of [¹¹C]HCN. Using this method, compounds labelled with [¹¹C]HCN are now made easily accessible for PET synthesis applications using readily available labware, without the need for the ‘traditional’ dedicated cyanide synthesis infrastructure.

In a reaction column, gaseous [¹¹C]methyl iodide was converted to [¹¹C]formaldehyde in a first layer containing N-oxide and then transformed into hydrogen [¹¹C]cyanide in a second layer containing hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid within 2 minutes.     

Fast liquid chromatographic determination of radiochemical and chemical purity of [11C]methionine by UPLC technique

Salinity, water logging, high nitrate, fluoride and dissolved uranium concentration in drinking water of southwest Punjab has impacted the local population leading to health issues and additional burden on economy. Though it was known that both U and its daughter products especially Rn contribute to radiological dose to the population through drinking water, there were no correlation studies carried out between these radioactive elements in U impacted regions of southwest Punjab. In this study, an initiative has been taken to assess the doses due to dissolved radon in drinking water. In addition, the U–Rn couple is evaluated in detail along with other hydrochemical parameters. The radon concentration ranges from 360–1700 Bq/m³ for Faridkot and 140–1400 Bq/m³ for Muktsar for both seasons and the related average total dose due to radon for both season of Faridkot and Muktsar are 9.79 µS/year and 7.74 µS/year respectively. The total dissolved uranium is in range of 16–350 µg/L for Faridkot and 14–106 µg/L for Muktsar for both seasons. An inverse correlation was observed between Rn and U, which could be attributed to diverse geochemistry of U and Rn in groundwater.

     

A simplified [11C]phosgene synthesis

A new flow-through system for the production of [¹¹C]phosgene, a versatile labelling agent in radiochemistry for PET, is described. Cyclotron-produced [¹¹C]CH₄ is mixed with Cl₂ and converted into [¹¹C]CCl₄ by passing the mixture through an empty quartz tube at 510 °C. The outflow is directed through a Sb-filled guard that takes out Cl₂ and then, without intentional O₂ addition, through a second empty quartz tube at 750 °C, giving rise to [¹¹C]phosgene in 30–35% radiochemical yield.     

[11C]Carbonyl Difluoride—a New and Highly Efficient [11C]Carbonyl Group Transfer Agent

Herein, the synthesis and use of [¹¹C]carbonyl difluoride for labeling heterocycles with [¹¹C]carbonyl groups in high molar activity is described. A very mild single‐pass gas‐phase conversion of [¹¹C]carbon monoxide into [¹¹C]carbonyl difluoride over silver(II) fluoride provides easy access to this new synthon in robust quantitative yield for labeling a broad range of cyclic substrates, for example, imidazolidin‐2‐ones, thiazolidin‐2‐ones, and oxazolidin‐2‐ones. Labeling reactions may utilize close‐to‐stoichiometric precursor quantities and short reaction times at room temperature in a wide range of solvents while also showing high water tolerability. The overall radiosynthesis protocol is both simple and reproducible. The required apparatus can be constructed from widely available parts and is therefore well suited to be automated for PET radiotracer production. We foresee that this straightforward method will gain wide acceptance for PET radiotracer syntheses across the radiochemistry community.     

Yield ratio of [11C]-CO2, [11C]-CO and [11C]-CH4 from the irradiation of N2/H2-mixtures in a gas target

The¹⁴N/p, /¹¹C-reaction was studied in different N₂/H₂-mixtures. The products are [¹¹C]-CO₂, [¹¹C]-CO and [¹¹C]-CH₄. The yield ratio may be controlled by varying the bombardment conditions. High pressure, high H₂-content, high beam current and high proton energy shift the ratio towards [¹¹C]-CH₄. Lower beam current and lower proton energy increase the yield of [¹¹C]-CO₂. The production of [¹¹C]-CO is constant over a wide range of conditions /about 10%/. For the production of [¹¹C]-CH₄ in good yield a target gas holder for high pressures has been developed. Details are given in Fig. 7. This target gas holder was filled with 5% H₂ in N₂ at 3×10⁶ Pa. Proton irradiation of the mixture gives a typical yield of [¹¹C]-CH₄ of 400–500 mCi at a beam current of 15–20 A within 20 min. Only traces of other¹¹C-labelled compounds could be detected under these conditions.     

Broad Scope and High-Yield Access to Unsymmetrical Acyclic [11C]Ureas for Biomedical Imaging from [11C]Carbonyl Difluoride

Effective methods are needed for labelling acyclic ureas with carbon-11 (t_1/2=20.4 min) as potential radiotracers for biomedical imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). Herein, we describe the rapid and high-yield syntheses of unsymmetrical acyclic [¹¹C]ureas under mild conditions (room temperature and within 7 min) using no-carrier-added [¹¹C]carbonyl difluoride with aliphatic and aryl amines. This methodology is compatible with diverse functionality (e. g., hydroxy, carboxyl, amino, amido, or pyridyl) in the substrate amines. The labelling process proceeds through putative [¹¹C]carbamoyl fluorides and for primary amines through isolable [¹¹C]isocyanate intermediates. Unsymmetrical [¹¹C]ureas are produced with negligible amounts of unwanted symmetrical [¹¹C]urea byproducts. Moreover, the overall labelling method tolerates trace water and the generally moderate to excellent yields show good reproducibility. [¹¹C]Carbonyl difluoride shows exceptional promise for application to the synthesis of acyclic [¹¹C]ureas as new radiotracers for biomedical imaging with PET.     

Synthesis of no-carrier-added 6-[11C]methyl-l-DOPA

Taking advantages of nuclear analytical techniques (NATs) with non-destruction, multielement capability, small and estimable uncertainties over a wide range of sample sizes, the sampling behavior of multielements for a home-made natural matrix material was studied with sample sizes ranging from several hundred mg down to tenths ng, namely nine orders of magnitude, by a combination of three NATs, neutron activation analysis (NAA), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and synchrotron radiation X-ray flurescence (SR-XRF), in an effort to explore a procedure for the development of certified reference materials (CRMs) suitable for quality control of microanalysis. For accurately weighable sample sizes (>1?mg), sampling uncertainties for 13 elements were found to be less than 1% by INAA. For sample sizes unable to be accurately weighed (<1?mg), PIXE and SR-XRF were used, respectively. Sampling uncertainties were found to be less than 1% at sample sizes of tenth mg level for seven elements, and less than 10% on ng levels for three elements. Considering these three elements have satisfied homogeneity (sampling uncertainty less than 10%) at ng sample size level, any one of them can be served as a ??relative balance?? in sampling behavior characterization of multielements on sample size levels larger than ng (e.g., ??g level). On this basis, sampling uncertainties for nine elements were found to be less than 10% on ??g sample size level by INAA. The results indicate that the matrix is eligible as a candidate of CRMs suitable for quality control of solid sampling microanalysis.     

Radiosynthesis and reactivity of N-[11C]methyl carbamoylimidazole

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - N-Methyl carbamoylimidazole is a safe and practical alternative to methyl isocyanate for carbamoylation reactions. We have developed a new...     

Microfluidic reactions using [11C]carbon monoxide solutions for the synthesis of a positron emission tomography radiotracer

Microfluidic technology has been used to perform [(11)C]carbonylation reactions using solutions containing [(11)C]CO in the form of the complex, copper(i)tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate-[(11)C]carbonyl (Cu(Tp*)[(11)C]CO). The synthesis of the model compound [(11)C]N-benzylbenzamide and the known tracer molecule [(11)C]trans-N-[5-(2-flurophenyl)-2-pyrimidinyl]-3-oxospiro[5-azaisobenzofurane-1(3H),1'-cyclohexane]-4'-carboxamide ([(11)C]MK-0233), a ligand for the neuropeptide Y Y5 receptor, have been performed using this technique. Following semi-preparative HPLC purification and reformulation, 1262 ± 113 MBq of [(11)C]MK-0233 was produced at the end of the synthesis with a specific activity of 100 ± 30 GBq μmol(-1) and a >99% radiochemical purity. This corresponds to a decay corrected radiochemical yield of 7.2 ± 0.7%. Using a 3 mL vial as the reaction vessel, and following semi-preparative HPLC purification and reformulation, 1255 ± 392 MBq of [(11)C]MK-0233 was produced at the end of the synthesis with a specific activity of 100 ± 15 GBq μmol(-1) and a >99% radiochemical purity. This corresponds to a decay corrected radiochemical yield of 7.1 ± 2.2%.     

Synthesis of 11C-labelled N,N'-diphenylurea and ethyl phenylcarbamate by a rhodium-promoted carbonylation via [11C]isocyanatobenzene using phenyl azide and [11C]carbon monoxide

The reaction with phenyl azide and [11C]carbon monoxide to give N,N'-diphenyl[11C]urea and ethyl phenyl[11C]carbamate has been studied with the aim of development of a new methodology for carbonylation using [11C]carbon monoxide with high specific radioactivity. The synthesis of 11C-labelled N,N'-diphenylurea from phenyl azide and [11C]carbon monoxide, with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane-bound Rh(I) complex at 120 degrees C at a pressure of 35 MPa in the presence of aniline was accomplished in 82% trapping efficiency and 82% conversion yield. This approach was also useful for the synthesis of ethyl phenyl[11C]carbamate with lithium ethoxide as a nucleophilic reagent giving 90% trapping efficiency and 76% conversion yield. These reactions can be considered to proceed via a [11C]isocyanate or a [11C]isocyanate-coordinated Rh complex to give the corresponding 11C-products. This protocol provides the chemical basis for the synthesis of [11C]urea and [11C]carbamate derived from [11C]isocyanates.     

Highly efficient syntheses of [methyl-11C]thymidine and its analogue 4'-[methyl-11C]thiothymidine as nucleoside PET probes for cancer cell proliferation by Pd(0)-mediated rapid C-[11C]methylation

Pd(0)-mediated rapid couplings of CH(3)I (and then [(11)C]CH(3)I) with excess 5-tributylstannyl-2'-deoxyuridine and -4'-thio-2'-deoxyuridine were investigated for the syntheses of [methyl-(11)C]thymidine and its stable analogue, 4'-[methyl-(11)C]thiothymidine as PET probes for cancer diagnosis. The previously reported conditions were attempted using Pd(2)(dba)(3)/P(o-CH(3)C(6)H(4))(3) (1?:?4 in molar ratio) at 130 °C for 5 min in DMF, giving desired products only in 32 and 30% yields. Therefore, we adapted the current reaction conditions developed in our laboratory for heteroaromatic compounds. The reaction using CH(3)I/stannane/Pd(2)(dba)(3)/P(o-CH(3)C(6)H(4))(3)/CuCl/K(2)CO(3) (1?:?25?:?1?:?32?:?2?:?5) at 80 °C gave thymidine in 85% yield. Whereas, CH(3)I/stannane/Pd(2)(dba)(3)/P(o-CH(3)C(6)H(4))(3)/CuBr/CsF (1?:?25?:?1?:?32?:?2?:?5) including another CuBr/CsF system promoted the reaction at a milder temperature (60 °C), giving thymidine in 100% yield. Chemo-response of thiothymidine-precursor was different from thymidine system. Thus, the above optimized conditions including CuBr/CsF system gave 4'-thiothymidine only in 40% yield. The reaction using 5-fold amount of CuBr/CsF at 80 °C gave much higher yield (83%), but unexpectedly, the reaction was accompanied by a considerable amount of undesired destannylated product. Such destannylation was greatly suppressed by changing to a CuCl/K(2)CO(3) system using CH(3)I/stannane/Pd(2)(dba)(3)/P(o-CH(3)C(6)H(4))(3)/CuCl/K(2)CO(3) (1?:?25?:?1?:?32?:?2?:?5) at 80 °C, giving the 4'-thiothymidine in 98% yield. The each optimized conditions were successfully applied to the syntheses of the corresponding PET probes in 87 and 93% HPLC analytical yields. [(11)C]Compounds were isolated by preparative HPLC after the reaction conducted under slightly improved conditions, exhibiting sufficient radioactivity of 3.7-3.8 GBq and specific radioactivity of 89-200 GBq μmol(-1) with radiochemical purity of ≥99.5% for animal and human PET studies.     

N-[11C]methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (Ecstasy) and 2-methyl-N-[11C]methyl-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine: Synthesis and biodistribution studies

In order to evaluate the neurobiological mechanism causing the psychogenic effects of methylenedioxy-derivatives of amphetamine, the carbon-11 labeled analogues of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA),2 and 2,N-dimethyl-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MADAM-6)4 were prepared for application in in-vivo PET studies by methylation of 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)1 and 2-methyl-4,5-methylenedioxyamphetamine3 with [¹¹C]CH₃I. The radiochemical yield was determined in dependence on time, temperature and amount of precursor. The best conditions for a fast labeling reaction with carbon-11 on a preparative scale were found to be a reaction time of 10 min using 1 mg of the corresponding dimethyl-precursors1 or3, thus obtaining radiochemical yields of 60% (based on produced [¹¹C]CH₃I). Biodistribution studies were performed in rats, a high brain to blood ratio of 7.5 was observed for [¹¹C]MDMA in contrast to a ratio of 3.7 for [¹¹C]MADAM-6.     

Preparation of N-[11C]methyl-2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine

For in vivo receptor studies N-[¹¹C]methyl-2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromo-amphetamine, [¹¹C]MDOB, was synthesized by the reaction of [¹¹C]CH₃I with DOB in acetonitrile. The labelling yield was determined in dependence on amount of precursor, time and temperature of the methylation reaction. During 10 to 15 minutes 60% to 70% of [¹¹C]MDOB has been obtained at 110°C.     

Preparation of N-[11C]methyl-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine

In order to evaluate the neurobiological mechanism causing the psychogenic effects of N-methyl-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (MDOM), the¹¹C labelled analogue was prepared for application in in vivo PET studies by the reaction of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) with [¹¹C]CH₃I. The radiochemical yield was determined in dependence on time, temperature, solvent and amount of substrate. The best conditions for fast labelling reactions with¹¹C on a preparative scale were found to be a reaction time of 10 miutes at 110°C using 1 mg DOM in acetonitrile thus obtaining radiochemical yields of 80% (based on produced [¹¹C]CH₃I).     

One-Pot Synthesis of 11C-Labelled Primary Benzamides via Intermediate [11C]Aroyl Dimethylaminopyridinium Salts

Electrophilic ¹¹C-labelled aroyl dimethylaminopyridinium salts, obtained by carbonylative cross-coupling of aryl halides with [¹¹C]carbon monoxide, were prepared for the first time and shown to be valuable intermediates in the synthesis of primary [¹¹C]benzamides. The methodology furnished a set of benzamide model compounds, including the two poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors niraparib and veliparib, in moderate to excellent radiochemical yields. In addition to providing a convenient and practical route to primary [¹¹C]benzamides, the current method paves the way for future application of [¹¹C]aroyl dimethylaminopyridinium halide salts in positron emission tomography (PET) tracer synthesis.     

Stability studies of an electrochemically formed [C60]fullerene-palladium two-component film

The stability of C₆₀ and palladium two-component films, C₆₀/Pd, has been investigated. The effect of different polymerization conditions on the electrochemical stability of the film upon prolonged potential cycling has been studied. Stable voltammetric behavior was observed for polymers formed at potentials less negative than the potential of third C₆₀ reduction step. The incorporation of palladium particles into the structure of C₆₀/Pd polymers increases the polymer stability. The C₆₀/Pd films are doped with supporting electrolyte cations during reduction. The size of these cations is a crucial factor in determining the stability of the film. A strong solvent effect on the potential stability of the film was also observed. The wildest range of stable voltammetric properties was found for acetonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide. No effect of the temperature on the film stability was observed. The results reported in this work allow for the determination of the optimal conditions for the formation of stable C₆₀/Pd films.