One-pot radioiodination of aryl amines via stable diazonium salts: preparation of 125I-imaging agents

An operationally simple, one-pot, two-step tandem procedure that allows the incorporation of radioactive iodine into aryl amines via stable diazonium salts is described. The mild conditions are tolerant of various functional groups and substitution patterns, allowing late-stage, rapid access to a wide range of 125I-labelled aryl compounds and SPECT radiotracers

New iodination reactions for the synthesis of SPECT imaging agents

This thesis describes the development of a mild, one-pot, diazotisation-iodination reaction, via a stable diazonium salt intermediate. The reaction is tolerant of various functional groups and substitution patterns, and was used as the final step in the synthesis of six potential or currently used radiotracers for SPECT imaging. The transformation was also adapted for use with sodium [125I]iodide as a mild, operationally simple method to access 125I-labelled SPECT radiotracers. The full radiosynthesis of the imaging agent iomazenil is described with iodine-125 and iodine-123. This one-pot reaction was then utilised for the development of new SPECT imaging agents for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. A small library of analogues based on the SPECT imaging agent CNS1261 were synthesised. The final project describes the development of a metal-catalysed iodination reaction from non-halide starting materials. The use of a highly active ruthenium catalyst and a nonaflate leaving group gave promising results for a number of substrates

New iodination reactions for the synthesis of SPECT imaging agents

This thesis describes the development of a mild, one-pot, diazotisation-iodination reaction, via a stable diazonium salt intermediate. The reaction is tolerant of various functional groups and substitution patterns, and was used as the final step in the synthesis of six potential or currently used radiotracers for SPECT imaging. The transformation was also adapted for use with sodium [125I]iodide as a mild, operationally simple method to access 125I-labelled SPECT radiotracers. The full radiosynthesis of the imaging agent iomazenil is described with iodine-125 and iodine-123. This one-pot reaction was then utilised for the development of new SPECT imaging agents for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. A small library of analogues based on the SPECT imaging agent CNS1261 were synthesised. The final project describes the development of a metal-catalysed iodination reaction from non-halide starting materials. The use of a highly active ruthenium catalyst and a nonaflate leaving group gave promising results for a number of substrates

Late stage iodination of biologically active agents using a one-pot process from aryl amines

A simple and effective one-pot tandem procedure that generates aryl iodides from readily available aryl amines via stable diazonium salts has been developed. The operationally simple procedure and mild conditions allow late-stage iodination of a wide range of aryl compounds bearing various functional groups and substitution patterns. A novel synthetic strategy involving the preparation of nitroaryl compounds followed by a chemoselective tin(II) dichloride reduction and the use of the one-pot diazotisation–iodination transformation was also developed. The general applicability of this approach was demonstrated with the preparation of a number of medicinally important compounds including CNS1261, a SPECT imaging agent of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and IBOX, a compound used to detect amyloid plaques in the brain

Synthesis of the fungal metabolite YWA1 and related constructs as tools to study MelLec-mediated immune response to Aspergillus infections

Funding Sources Funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust (102705, 097377), the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology and the University of Aberdeen (MR/N006364/1). ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank Ian Fraser Flow Cytometry and Microscopy and Histology facilities, University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPostprin

Developing the Saegusa-Ito cyclisation for the synthesis of difluorinated cyclohexenones

Palladium(II)-catalysed cycloalkenylation (Saegusa-Ito cyclisation) has been used for the first time to transform difluorinated silylenol ethers to difluorinated cycloalkenones under mild conditions. The silylenol ether precursors were prepared in two high-yielding steps from trifluoroethanol, and cyclised in moderate to good yields. A combination of air and copper(I) chloride in acetonitrile achieved the turnover of the initial palladium(II) salt, while the provision of an oxygen atmosphere ensured more rapid reaction. Annulations required a minimum level of substitution on the chain, but failed when the alkene was substituted. Annelations allowed a range of n,6-bicyclic systems to be prepared and afforded three products in which heterocycles were fused to the new cyclohexenone. The least substituted system explored underwent cyclisation followed by terminal oxidation to a cyclic enal, which corresponded to a Wacker product of unusual regiochemistry

Mechanism of Cu-catalyzed aryl boronic acid halode-boronation using electrophilic halogen : development of a base-catalyzed Iododeboronation for radiolabeling applications

The authors are grateful to EPSRC (EP/R511705/1 and a studentship to K.M.O., EP/K503058/1) and the University of Glasgow. We thank the University of St Andrews (M.J.W) and CAPES/Science Without Borders (C.P.F) for PhD studentships.An investigation into the mechanism of Cu-catalyzed aryl boronic acid halodeboronation using electrophilic halogen reagents is reported. Evidence is provided to show that this takes place via a boronate-driven ipso-substitution pathway and that Cu is not required for these processes to operate: general Lewis base catalysis is operational. This in turn allows the rational development of a general, simple, and effective base-catalyzed halodeboronation that is amenable to the preparation of 125I-labeled products for SPECT applications.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Quantification of macrophage-driven inflammation during myocardial infarction with 18F-LW223, a novel TSPO radiotracer with binding independent of the rs6971 human polymorphism

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and inflammation is central to tissue response and patient outcomes. The 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) has been used in PET as an inflammatory biomarker. The aims of this study were to screen novel, fluorinated, TSPO radiotracers for susceptibility to the rs6971 genetic polymorphism using in vitro competition binding assays in human brain and heart; assess whether the in vivo characteristics of our lead radiotracer, 18F-LW223, are suitable for clinical translation; and validate whether 18F-LW223 can detect macrophage-driven inflammation in a rat MI model. Methods: Fifty-one human brain and 29 human heart tissue samples were screened for the rs6971 polymorphism. Competition binding assays were conducted with 3H-PK11195 and the following ligands: PK11195, PBR28, and our novel compounds (AB5186 and LW223). Naïve rats and mice were used for in vivo PET kinetic studies, radiometabolite studies, and dosimetry experiments. Rats underwent permanent coronary artery ligation and were scanned using PET/CT with an invasive input function at 7 d after MI. For quantification of PET signal in the hypoperfused myocardium, K1 (rate constant for transfer from arterial plasma to tissues) was used as a surrogate marker of perfusion to correct the binding potential for impaired radiotracer transfer from plasma to tissue (BPTC). Results: LW223 binding to TSPO was not susceptible to the rs6971 genetic polymorphism in human brain and heart samples. In rodents, 18F-LW223 displayed a specific uptake consistent with TSPO expression, a slow metabolism in blood (69% of parent at 120 min), a high plasma free fraction of 38.5%, and a suitable dosimetry profile (effective dose of 20.5–24.5 μSv/MBq). 18F-LW223 BPTC was significantly higher in the MI cohort within the infarct territory of the anterior wall relative to the anterior wall of naïve animals (32.7 ± 5.0 vs. 10.0 ± 2.4 cm3/mL/min, P ≤ 0.001). Ex vivo immunofluorescent staining for TSPO and CD68 (macrophage marker) resulted in the same pattern seen with in vivo BPTC analysis. Conclusion: 18F-LW223 is not susceptible to the rs6971 genetic polymorphism in in vitro assays, has favorable in vivo characteristics, and is able to accurately map macrophage-driven inflammation after MI

Evaluating the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutation D614G on Transmissibility and Pathogenicity.

Global dispersal and increasing frequency of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant D614G are suggestive of a selective advantage but may also be due to a random founder effect. We investigate the hypothesis for positive selection of spike D614G in the United Kingdom using more than 25,000 whole genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Despite the availability of a large dataset, well represented by both spike 614 variants, not all approaches showed a conclusive signal of positive selection. Population genetic analysis indicates that 614G increases in frequency relative to 614D in a manner consistent with a selective advantage. We do not find any indication that patients infected with the spike 614G variant have higher COVID-19 mortality or clinical severity, but 614G is associated with higher viral load and younger age of patients. Significant differences in growth and size of 614G phylogenetic clusters indicate a need for continued study of this variant

Hospital admission and emergency care attendance risk for SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) compared with alpha (B.1.1.7) variants of concern: a cohort study

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant was first detected in England in March, 2021. It has since rapidly become the predominant lineage, owing to high transmissibility. It is suspected that the delta variant is associated with more severe disease than the previously dominant alpha (B.1.1.7) variant. We aimed to characterise the severity of the delta variant compared with the alpha variant by determining the relative risk of hospital attendance outcomes. Methods: This cohort study was done among all patients with COVID-19 in England between March 29 and May 23, 2021, who were identified as being infected with either the alpha or delta SARS-CoV-2 variant through whole-genome sequencing. Individual-level data on these patients were linked to routine health-care datasets on vaccination, emergency care attendance, hospital admission, and mortality (data from Public Health England's Second Generation Surveillance System and COVID-19-associated deaths dataset; the National Immunisation Management System; and NHS Digital Secondary Uses Services and Emergency Care Data Set). The risk for hospital admission and emergency care attendance were compared between patients with sequencing-confirmed delta and alpha variants for the whole cohort and by vaccination status subgroups. Stratified Cox regression was used to adjust for age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, recent international travel, area of residence, calendar week, and vaccination status. Findings: Individual-level data on 43 338 COVID-19-positive patients (8682 with the delta variant, 34 656 with the alpha variant; median age 31 years [IQR 17–43]) were included in our analysis. 196 (2·3%) patients with the delta variant versus 764 (2·2%) patients with the alpha variant were admitted to hospital within 14 days after the specimen was taken (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 2·26 [95% CI 1·32–3·89]). 498 (5·7%) patients with the delta variant versus 1448 (4·2%) patients with the alpha variant were admitted to hospital or attended emergency care within 14 days (adjusted HR 1·45 [1·08–1·95]). Most patients were unvaccinated (32 078 [74·0%] across both groups). The HRs for vaccinated patients with the delta variant versus the alpha variant (adjusted HR for hospital admission 1·94 [95% CI 0·47–8·05] and for hospital admission or emergency care attendance 1·58 [0·69–3·61]) were similar to the HRs for unvaccinated patients (2·32 [1·29–4·16] and 1·43 [1·04–1·97]; p=0·82 for both) but the precision for the vaccinated subgroup was low. Interpretation: This large national study found a higher hospital admission or emergency care attendance risk for patients with COVID-19 infected with the delta variant compared with the alpha variant. Results suggest that outbreaks of the delta variant in unvaccinated populations might lead to a greater burden on health-care services than the alpha variant. Funding: Medical Research Council; UK Research and Innovation; Department of Health and Social Care; and National Institute for Health Research