Imperial News

Oct 2020 - Article Published in Current Radiopharmaceuticals

by Professor Alan C Spivey, Jonathan Robson, Sara Cesarec

Sara Cesarec and Jonathan Robson's paper on aliphatic C-H to C18F bond transformation catalysed by a Mn(porphyrin) complex is published.

Sara Cesarec, Jonathan A. Robson, Laurence S. Carroll,* Eric O. Aboagye and Alan C.Spivey, Direct incorporation of [18F] into Aliphatic Systems: A promising Mn-catalysed Labelling Technique for PET Imaging’, Current Radiopharmaceuticals, 2021, 14, 101-106. DOI: 10.2174/1874471013666200907115026

Background: One of the challenges in positron emission tomography (PET) is labelling complex aliphatic molecules.
Objective: This study aimed to develop a method of metal-catalysed radiofluorination that is site-selective and works in moderate to good yields under facile conditions.
Methods: Herein, we report on the optimisation of an aliphatic C-H to C-18F bond transformation catalysed by a Mn(porphyrin) complex.
Results: The successful oxidation of 11 aliphatic molecules, including progesterone, is reported. Radiochemical Incorporations (RCIs) up to 69% were achieved within 60 min without the need for pre-activation or special equipment.
Conclusion: The method features mild conditions (60 °C) and promises to constitute a valuable approach to labelling of biomolecules and drug substances.

Aboagye EO, Spive