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[11C]Carfentanil ([11C]CFN) is a selective radiotracer for in vivo positron emission tomography imaging studies of the μ-opioid system that, in our laboratories, is synthesized by methylation of the corresponding carboxylate precursor with [11C]MeOTf, and purified using a C2 solid-phase extraction cartridge. Changes in the commercial availability of common C2 cartridges have necessitated future proofing the synthesis of [11C]CFN to maintain reliable delivery of the radiotracer for clinical imaging studies. An updated synthesis of [11C]CFN is reported that replaces a now obsolete purification cartridge with a new commercially available version and also substitutes the organic solvents used in traditional production methods with ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O‐(1‐Fluoropropan‐2‐yl)‐O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate is a reactive organophosphate ester (OP) developed as a surrogate of the chemical warfare agent sarin that forms a similar covalent adduct at the active site serine of acetylcholinesterase. The radiolabeled O‐(1‐[18F]fluoropropan‐2‐yl)‐O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate ([18F] fluorosarin surrogate) has not been previously prepared. In this paper, we report the first radiosynthesis of this tracer from the reaction of bis‐(4‐nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate with 1‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐propanol in the presence of DBU. The 1‐[18F]fluoro‐2‐propanol was prepared by reaction of propylene sulfite with Kryptofix 2.2.2 and [18F] fluoride ion. The desired tracer O‐(1‐[18F]fluoropropan‐2‐yl)‐O‐(4‐nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate was obtained in a >98% radiochemical purity with a 2.4% ± 0.6% yield (n = 5, 65 minutes from start of synthesis) based on starting [18F] fluoride ion and a molar activity of 49.9 GBq/μmol (1.349 ± 0.329 Ci/μmol, n = 3). This new facile radiosynthesis routinely affords sufficient quantities of [18F] fluorosarin surrogate in high radiochemical purity, which will further enable the tracer development as a novel radiolabeled OP acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for assessment of OP modes of action with PET imaging in vivo. Synthesis of a fluorine‐18‐labeled PET tracer surrogate of sarin to evaluate the exposure mechanism and reactivation of acetylcholinesterase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O-(2-Fluoroethyl)-O-( p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate 1 is an organophosphate cholinesterase inhibitor that creates a phosphonyl-serine covalent adduct at the enzyme active site blocking cholinesterase activity in vivo. The corresponding radiolabeled O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-O-(p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate, [ 18 F]1, has been previously prepared and found to be an excellent positron emission tomography imaging tracer for assessment of cholinesterases in live brain, peripheral tissues, and blood. However, the previously reported [ 18 F]1 tracer synthesis was slow even with microwave acceleration, required high-performance liquid chromatography separation of the tracer from impurities, and gave less optimal radiochemical yields. In this paper, we report a new synthetic approach to circumvent these shortcomings that is reliant on the facile reactivity of bis-(O,O-p-nitrophenyl) methylphosphonate, 2, with 2-fluoroethanol in the presence of DBU. The cold synthesis was successfully translated to provide a more robust radiosynthesis. Using this new strategy, the desired tracer, [ 18 F]1, was obtained in a non-decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 8 ± 2% (n = 7) in >99% radiochemical and >95% chemical purity with a specific activity of 3174 ± 345 Ci/mmol (EOS). This new facile radiosynthesis routinely affords highly pure quantities of [ 18 F]1, which will further enable tracer development of OP cholinesterase inhibitors and their evaluation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Detection of bacteria‐specific metabolism via positron emission tomography (PET) is an emerging strategy to image human pathogens, with dramatic implications for clinical practice. In silico and in vitro screening tools have recently been applied to this problem, with several monosaccharides including l‐arabinose showing rapid accumulation in Escherichia coli and other organisms. Our goal for this study was to evaluate several synthetically viable arabinofuranose‐derived 18F analogs for their incorporation into pathogenic bacteria. PROCEDURES: We synthesized four radiolabeled arabinofuranose‐derived sugars: 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18F]fluoro‐arabinofuranoses (d‐2‐18F‐AF and l‐2‐18F‐AF) and 5‐deoxy‐5‐[18F]fluoro‐arabinofuranoses (d‐5‐18F‐AF and l‐5‐18F‐AF). The arabinofuranoses were synthesized from 18F‐ via triflated, peracetylated precursors analogous to the most common radiosynthesis of 2‐deoxy‐2‐[18F]fluoro‐d‐glucose ([18F]FDG). These radiotracers were screened for their uptake into E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequently, the sensitivity of d‐2‐18F‐AF and l‐2‐18F‐AF to key human pathogens was investigated in vitro. RESULTS: All 18F radiotracer targets were synthesized in high radiochemical purity. In the screening study, d‐2‐18F‐AF and l‐2‐18F‐AF showed greater accumulation in E. coli than in S. aureus. When evaluated in a panel of pathologic microorganisms, both d‐2‐18F‐AF and l‐2‐18F‐AF demonstrated sensitivity to most gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Arabinofuranose‐derived 18F PET radiotracers can be synthesized with high radiochemical purity. Our study showed absence of bacterial accumulation for 5‐substitued analogs, a finding that may have mechanistic implications for related tracers. Both d‐2‐18F‐AF and l‐2‐18F‐AF showed sensitivity to most gram‐negative and gram‐positive organisms. Future in vivo studies will evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these radiotracers in animal models of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]