Abstract
A suitable TSPO PET ligand may visualize and quantify neuroinflammation in a living brain. Herein we report a (18)F-ligand, [(18)F]2 ([(18)F]FDPA), is radiolabeled in high yield and high specific activity based on our spirocyclic iodonium ylide (SCIDY) strategy. [(18)F]2 demonstrated saturable specific binding to TSPO, substantially elevated brain uptake, and slow washout of bound PET signal in the preclinical models of brain neuroinflammation (cerebral ischemia and Alzheimer's disease).