Catalytic decarboxylative fluorination for the synthesis of tri- and difluoromethyl arenes.

Treatment of readily available α,α-difluoro- and α-fluoroarylacetic acids with Selectfluor under Ag(I) catalysis led to decarboxylative fluorination. This operationally simple reaction gave access to tri- and difluoromethylarenes applying a late-stage fluorination strategy. Translation to [(18)F]labeling is demonstrated using [(18)F]Selectfluor bis(triflate), a reagent affording [(18)F]tri- and [(18)F]difluoromethylarenes not within reach with [(18)F]F2

Rotatory atlanto-axial dislocation in an infant with osteogenesis imperfecta

This is a case report of a 15-month-old patient with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) who sustained atlanto-axial dislocation. Our objective is to report a unique case of traumatic atlanto-axial subluxation in a child with osteogenesis imperfecta associated with bilateral femoral fractures. The management is discussed. Atlanto-axial dislocation occurring with associated osteogenesis imperfecta is very rare. There have been no previous reported cases. A 15-month-old girl with osteogenesis imperfecta sustained a traumatic atlanto-axial dislocation. The child was followed-up through presentation, diagnosis, management and post-discharge. The initial diagnosis was confirmed with a CT scan. The patient was treated conservatively with a halo-traction for 4 weeks followed by a halo jacket for a further 4 weeks. Both appliances were fitted under general anaesthetic. An anatomical reduction was achieved. There was no neurological deficit at any stage. The child has had a successful outcome. She is asymptomatic with a full range of movement at the atlanto-axial joints at 9 months. In conclusion, this paper records our management of this rare problem

[¹⁸F]Difluorocarbene for positron emission tomography

The advent of total-body Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has vastly broadened the range of research and clinical applications of this powerful molecular imaging technology1. Such possibilities have accelerated progress in&nbsp;18F-radiochemistry with numerous methods available to&nbsp;18F-label (hetero)arenes and alkanes2. However, access to&nbsp;18F-difluoromethylated molecules in high molar activity (Am) is largely an unsolved problem, despite the indispensability of the difluoromethyl group for pharmaceutical drug discovery3. We report herein a general solution by introducing carbene chemistry to the field of nuclear imaging with a [18F]difluorocarbene reagent capable of a myriad of&nbsp;18F-difluoromethylation processes.&nbsp;In contrast to the tens of known difluorocarbene reagents, this&nbsp;18F-reagent is carefully designed for facile accessibility, high molar activity and versatility.&nbsp;The issue of Am&nbsp;is solved using an assay examining the likelihood of isotopic dilution upon variation of the electronics of the difluorocarbene precursor. Versatility is demonstrated with multiple [18F]difluorocarbene based reactions including O&ndash;H, S&ndash;H and N&ndash;H insertions, and cross-couplings that harness the reactivity of ubiquitous functional groups such as (thio)phenols,&nbsp;N-heteroarenes, and aryl boronic acids that are easy to install. Impact is illustrated with the labelling of highly complex and functionalised biologically relevant molecules and radiotracers.</p