Abstract
BACKGROUND: Copper-mediated radiofluorination is a straightforward method to produce a variety of [(18)F]fluoroarenes and [(18)F]fluoroheteroarenes. To minimize the number of steps in the production of (18)F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals, we have developed a short and efficient azeotropic drying-free (18)F-labelling method using copper-mediated fluorination. Our goal was to improve the copper-mediated method to achieve wide substrate scope with good radiochemical yields with short synthesis time. RESULTS: Solid phase extraction with Cu (OTf)(2) in dimethylacetamide is a suitable activation method for [(18)F]fluoride. Elution efficiency with Cu (OTf)(2) is up to 79% and radiochemical yield (RCY) of a variety of model molecules in the crude reaction mixture has reached over 90%. Clinically relevant molecules, norepinephrine transporter tracer [(18)F]NS12137 and monoamine transporter tracer [(18)F]CFT were produced with 16.5% RCY in 98 min and 5.3% RCY in 64 min, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Cu (OTf)(2) is a suitable elution agent for releasing [(18)F]fluoride from an anion exchange cartridge. The method is fast and efficient and the Cu-complex is customizable after the release of [(18)F]fluoride. Alterations in the [(18)F]fluoride elution techniques did not have a negative effect on the subsequent labelling reactions. We anticipate this improved [(18)F]fluoride elution technique to supplant the traditional azeotropic drying of [(18)F]fluoride in the long run and to concurrently enable the variations of the copper-complex.