Simplification of Methods for PET Radiopharmaceutical Syntheses

In an attempt to develop simplified methods for radiochemical synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals useful in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), current commercially available automated synthesis apparati were evaluated for use with solid phase synthesis, thin-film techniques, microwave-accelerated chemistry, and click chemistry approaches. Using combinations of these techniques, it was shown that these automated synthesis systems can be simply and effectively used to support the synthesis of a wide variety of carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labeled compounds, representing all of the major types of compounds synthesized and using all of the common radiochemical precursors available. These techniques are available for use to deliver clinically useful amounts of PET radiopharmaceuticals with chemical and radiochemical purities and high specific activities, suitable for human administration

Synthesis of [ 18 F]GBR 12909, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor

Preparation of no‐carrier‐added fluorine‐18 labeled GBR 12909 (1‐[2‐(bis(4‐fluorophenyl)methoxy)ethyl]‐4‐(3‐phenylpropyl)piperazine), a specific and high affinity inhibitor of dopamine reuptake, is described. 4‐Fluoro‐4′‐[ 18 F]fluorobenzophenone was prepared by [ 18 F]fluoride ion substitution of the corresponding trimethylammonium trifluoromethanesulfonate salt. The [ 18 F]benzophenone was reduced to the benzhydrol, chlorinated, then used to alkylate 1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐4‐(3‐phenyl‐propyl)piperazine to yield [ 18 F]GBR 12909 in high specific activity (≥2000 Ci/mmol) and overall yields of 10–16% (corrected, 140 min synthesis).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90171/1/2580280708_ftp.pd

In vivo binding of [18F]GBR 13119 to the brain dopamine uptake system

Regional rat brain uptake of [18F]GBR 13119, a high specific activity, positron-emitter labeled derivative of the potent dopamine uptake antagonist GBR 12935, is reported. Striatum to cerebellum ratios of 3 are obtained at 90 minutes post injection. Specific binding in striatum can be blocked by pretreatment with dopamine uptake system antagonists (mazindol, nomifensine) but not with receptor antagonists (spiperone, flupenthixol). [18F]GBR 13119 is proposed as a new positron-emitting radioligand for in vivo PET studies of the pre-synaptic dopamine uptake system.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27608/1/0000652.pd

Final Report 2007: DOE-FG02-87ER60561

This project involved a multi-faceted approach to the improvement of techniques used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), from radiochemistry to image processing and data analysis. New methods for radiochemical syntheses were examined, new radiochemicals prepared for evaluation and eventual use in human PET studies, and new pre-clinical methods examined for validation of biochemical parameters in animal studies. The value of small animal PET imaging in measuring small changes of in vivo biochemistry was examined and directly compared to traditional tissue sampling techniques. In human imaging studies, the ability to perform single experimental sessions utilizing two overlapping injections of radiopharmaceuticals was tested, and it was shown that valid biochemical measures for both radiotracers can be obtained through careful pharmacokinetic modeling of the PET emission data. Finally, improvements in reconstruction algorithms for PET data from small animal PET scanners was realized and these have been implemented in commercial releases. Together, the project represented an integrated effort to improve and extend all basic science aspects of PET imaging at both the animal and human level

Can we predict reactivity for aromatic nucleophilic substitution with [ 18 F]fluoride ion?

The correlation between the 13 C‐NMR chemical shift of the aromatic ring carbon bearing the leaving group and the yield of nucleophilic aromatic displacement with no‐carrier‐added [ 18 F]fluoride ion was evaluated. In comparison of structurally analogous compounds (fluoro, nitro and trimethylammonium substituted benzaldehydes, benzophenones and benzonitriles), the 13 C‐NMR chemical shift of the reactive aryl ring carbon correlated quite well with the [ 18 F]fluorination yield (r 2 =0.87) for most but not all ring structures. Compounds with trimethylammonium leaving groups or methyl ring substituents were found to not fit the proposed correlation. Kinetic studies indicated clearly different rates of reaction for these compounds, with much higher than expected reactivity for the ccompounds with the cationic leaving group. Competition experiments suggest that low reactivity of methyl‐substituted rings may be due to conversion of [ 18 F]fluoride to an unreactive form. Our results indicate that the correlation between [ 18 F]fluorination yields for nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions and the 13 C NMR chemical shift of the aryl ring carbon bearing the leaving group is applicable to numerous structurally analogous compounds, but cannot be simply generalized to aromatic rings with different leaving groups or ring substituents.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90183/1/2580330702_ftp.pd

[ 11 C]NNC 12-0722 or [ 18 F]GBR 13119: Just what is “better”?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46836/1/259_2004_Article_BF00285593.pd

In vivo binding of [11C]tetrabenazine to vesicular monoamine transporters in mouse brain

The time course of regional mouse brain distribution of radioactivity after i.v. injection of a tracer dose of [11C]tetrabenazine ([11C]TBZ) has been determined. Radiotracer uptake into brain is rapid, with 3.2% injected dose in the brain at 2 min. Egress from the brain is also very rapid, with only 0.21% of the injected dose still present in brain at 60 min. Radiotracer washout is slowest from the striatum and hypothalamus, consistent with binding to the higher numbers of vesicular monoamine transporters in those brain regions. The rank order of radioligand binding at 10 min after injection is striatum > hypothalamus > hippocampus > cortex = cerebellum, similar to that found using in vitro assays of the vesicular monoamine transporters. Maximum ratios of striatum/cerebellum and hypothalamus/cerebellum were 2.85 +/- 0.52 and 1.69 +/- 0.25, respectively, at 10 min after injection. Co-injection of unlabeled tetrabenazine (10 mg/kg) or pretreatment with reserpine (1 mg/kg i.p., 24 h prior) was used to demonstrate specific binding of radioligand in striatum, hypothalamus, cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Distribution of [11C]TBZ was unaffected by pretreatment with the neuronal dopamine uptake inhibitor GBR 12935 (20 mg/kg i.p., 30 min prior). [11C]Tetrabenazine is thus a promising new radioligand for the in vivo study of monoaminergic neurons using Positron Emission Tomography.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30357/1/0000759.pd

Oxidation of substituted 4-fluorobenzaldehydes: Application to the no-carrier-added syntheses of 4-[18F]fluoroguaiacol and 4-[18F]fluorocatechol

The synthesis of 4-[18F]fluoroguaiacol (4-[18F]fluoro-2-methoxyphenol) has been achieved in no-carrier-added form starting from 2-methoxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde, using nucleophilic aromatic substitution by [18F]fluoride followed by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of the benzaldehyde to the phenol. Demethylation with boron tribromide gave 4-[18F]fluorocatechol (1,2-dihydroxy-4-[18F]fluorobenzene) with an overall yield of 18-28% (EOB) in less than 2 h synthesis time. The fluorine-18 labeled intermediates and products were identical to standards of 4-fluoroguaiacol and 4-fluorocatechol prepared by the same methods. This represents a new approach to the synthesis of fluorinated phenols in fluorine-19 and fluorine-18 forms.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29638/1/0000727.pd

Shades of grey: Radiopharmaceutical chemistry in the 1990s and beyond

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29931/1/0000288.pd

Rapid and differential losses of in vivo dopamine transporter (DAT) and vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT2) radioligand binding in MPTP-treated mice

The dose- and time-dependent changes of in vivo radioligand binding to the neuronal membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) and vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) were examined in mouse brain after MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) administrations. Regional brain distribution studies were done in male C57BL/6 mice using simultaneous injections of d - threo -[ 3 H]methylphenidate (DAT) and (+)-α-[ 11 C]dihydrotetrabenazine (VMAT2). Single (55 mg/kg i.p.) or multiple (4 × 10 mg/kg i.p., 1-hour intervals) administration of MPTP caused significant reductions in [ 3 H]methylphenidate and [ 11 C]dihydrotetrabenazine specific striatal binding, measured 14 days later. The single high dose of MPTP produced greater losses of [ 11 C]dihydrotetrabenazine binding than did the multiple MPTP dosing regimen. Using the single high dose of MPTP, changes of in vivo binding of the two radioligands were determined at 1, 3, and 14 days after neurotoxin injection. At 1 day, there are large losses of [ 3 H]methylphenidate binding (DAT) but no changes in [ 11 C]dihydrotetrabenazine binding to the VMAT2 site in the striatum. At 3 and 14 days, there were >50% losses of binding of both bot radioligands, but significantly ( P < 0.001) greater losses of VMAT2 binding of [ 11 C]dihydrotetrabenazine. These studies indicate that the losses of the neuronal membrane and vesicular transporters are not always equal, and do not occur in the same time frame, after administration of the neurotoxin MPTP. Synapse 35:250–255, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34986/1/2_ftp.pd