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This article describes a sequential Ir/Cu-mediated process for the meta-selective C-H radiofluorination of (hetero)arene substrates. In the first step, Ir-catalyzed C(sp2)-H borylation affords (hetero)aryl pinacolboronate (BPin) esters. The intermediate organoboronates are then directly subjected to copper-mediated radiofluorination with [18F]tetrabutylammonium fluoride to afford fluorine-18 labeled (hetero)arenes in high radiochemical yield and radiochemical purity. This entire process is performed on a benchtop without Schlenk or glovebox techniques and circumvents the need to isolate (hetero)aryl boronate esters. The reaction was automated on a TracerLab FXFN module with 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and a meta-tyrosine derivative. The products, [18F]1-fluoro-3,5-dimethoxybenzene and an 18F-labeled meta-tyrosine derivative, were obtained in 37 ± 5% isolated radiochemical yield and >99% radiochemical purity and 25% isolated radiochemical yield and 99% radiochemical purity, and 0.52 Ci/μmol (19.24 GBq/μmol) molar activity (Am), respectively.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a diagnostic nuclear imaging modality that relies on automated protocols to prepare agents labeled with a positron-emitting radionuclide (e.g., 18F). In recent years, new reactions have appeared for the 18F-labeling of agents that are difficult to access by applying traditional radiochemistry, for example those requiring 18F incorporation into unactivated (hetero)arenes. However, automation of these new methods for translation to the clinic has progressed slowly because extensive modification of manual protocols is typically required when implementing novel 18F-labeling methodologies within automated modules. Here, we describe the workflow that led to the automated radiosynthesis of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor [18F]olaparib. First, we established a robust manual protocol to prepare [18F]olaparib from the protected N-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]methyl (SEM) arylboronate ester precursor in a 17% ± 5% (n = 15; synthesis time, 135 min) non-decay-corrected (NDC) activity yield, with molar activity (Am) up to 34.6 GBq/µmol. Automation of the process, consisting of copper-mediated 18F-fluorodeboronation followed by deprotection, was achieved on an Eckert & Ziegler Modular-Lab radiosynthesis platform, affording [18F]olaparib in a 6% ± 5% (n = 3; synthesis time, 120 min) NDC activity yield with Am up to 319 GBq/µmol. Automation of new methods for 18F incorporation into unactivated (hetero)arenes for translation to the clinic has progressed slowly. This protocol describes a workflow leading to automated radiosynthesis of the PARP inhibitor [18F]olaparib.

Molecules labeled with fluorine-18 ((18)F) are used in positron emission tomography to visualize, characterize and measure biological processes in the body. Despite recent advances in the incorporation of (18)F onto arenes, the development of general and efficient approaches to label radioligands necessary for drug discovery programs remains a significant task. This full account describes a derisking approach toward the radiosynthesis of heterocyclic positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands using the copper-mediated (18)F-fluorination of aryl boron reagents with (18)F-fluoride as a model reaction. This approach is based on a study examining how the presence of heterocycles commonly used in drug development affects the efficiency of (18)F-fluorination for a representative aryl boron reagent, and on the labeling of more than 50 (hetero)aryl boronic esters. This set of data allows for the application of this derisking strategy to the successful radiosynthesis of seven structurally complex pharmaceutically relevant heterocycle-containing molecules.

In this work, we describe the (18)F-labeling of α,α-difluoro-α-(aryloxy)acetic acid derivatives and demonstrate that these building blocks are amenable to post-(18)F-fluorination functionalization. Protodecarboxylation offers a new entry to (18)F-difluoromethoxyarene, and the value of this approach is further demonstrated with coupling processes leading to representative (18)F-labeled TRPV1 inhibitors and TRPV1 antagonists.

International audience; [18F]FMTEB, [18F]FPEB, [18F]flumazenil, [18F]DAA1106, [18F]MFBG, [18F]FDOPA, [18F]FMT and [18F]FDA are prepared from the corresponding arylboronic esters and [18F]KF/K222 in the presence of Cu(OTf)2py4. The method was successfully applied using three radiosynthetic platforms, and up to 26 GBq of non-carrier added starting activity of 18F-fluoride.

International audience; A general method for the copper mediated nucleophilic 123I-iodination of (hetero)aryl boronic esters and acids has been developed. The broad substrate scope of this radiosynthetic approach allows access to [123I]DPA-713, [123I]IMPY, [123I]MIBG and [123I]IPEB that are four commonly used SPECT radiotracers. Our results infer that aryl boronic reagents can now be employed as common precursors for both fluorine-18 and iodine-123 radiolabelling.

Molecules labeled with fluorine-18 are used as radiotracers for positron emission tomography. An important challenge is the labeling of arenes not amenable to aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) with [ 18F]F-. In the ideal case, the 18F fluorination of these substrates would be performed through reaction of [18F]KF with shelf-stable readily available precursors using a broadly applicable method suitable for automation. Herein, we describe the realization of these requirements with the production of 18F arenes from pinacol-derived aryl boronic esters (arylBPin) upon treatment with [18F]KF/K 222 and [Cu(OTf)2(py)4] (OTf= trifluoromethanesulfonate, py=pyridine). This method tolerates electron-poor and electron-rich arenes and various functional groups, and allows access to 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA, 6-[18F]fluoro-m-tyrosine, and the translocator protein (TSPO) PET ligand [18F]DAA1106. 18F-labeling for PET: The nucleophilic 18F fluorination of pinacol-derived aryl boronic esters is achieved with [18F]KF/K 222 in the presence of [Cu(OTf)2(py)4] (OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate, py=pyridine); this unprecedented method can produce a clinical dose of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA in two steps (fluorination followed by deprotection) from a readily available shelf-stable arylBPin precursor (see scheme). RCY=decay-corrected radiochemical yield © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.