<p>Methods for the ¹¹C-labeling of carbonyl compounds applicable in the preparation of radiotracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are described. To this end [¹¹C]carbon monoxide at low concentration was used in transition metal- mediated reactions.</p><p>Stille couplings were employed in the synthesis of [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]ketones from methyl and aryl halides with [¹¹C]carbon monoxide. The synthesized [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]ketones were obtained from the corresponding organostannanes with analytical radiochemical yields up to 98%.</p><p>A number of synthetic routes were designed using [¹¹C]carbon monoxide and rhodium complexes. Nitrene intermediates were generated from azides and reacted via a rhodium-mediated carbonylation reaction as a general synthetic route to [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]isocyanates, versatile precursors. [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]Isocyanate reacted via nucleophilic attack of an amine to form <i>N,N’</i>-diphenyl[¹¹C]urea in 82% analytical radiochemical yield, ethyl phenyl[¹¹C]carbamate was synthesized by the same route, using ethanol as the nucleophile, in 70% radiochemical yield. [¹¹C]Isocyanate was also able to react in a [2+3] cycloaddition with ethylene oxide to form 3-phenyl[<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]oxazolidin-2-one in over 80% analytical radiochemical yield. This method was applied to the synthesis of a potential efflux system tracer [¹¹C]hydroxyurea in 38% isolated radiochemical yield and the derivative 1-hydroxy-3-phenyl[¹¹C]urea in 35% isolated radiochemical yield. Carbene intermediates, generated from diazo compounds, were reacted with [¹¹C]carbon monoxide in the rhodium-mediated synthesis of [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]ketenes. [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]Ketene intermediates were utilised in the synthesis of diethyl[<i>carbonyl</i>-¹¹C]malonate, from ethyl diazoacetate and ethanol. The product was obtained with a 20% isolated radiochemical yield. Alkylation of diethyl[<i>carbonyl</i>-¹¹C]malonate, with ethyliodide and tetrabutylammonium fluoride, was successfully accomplished and diethyl diethyl[<i>carbonyl</i>-¹¹C]malonate was synthesized in 50% analytical radiochemical yield. Several (<i>carbonyl-</i>¹³C)compounds were also synthesized using the described methods as a way of characterizing the position of the label using ¹³C-NMR.</p>

Methods for the 11C-labeling of carbonyl compounds applicable in the preparation of radiotracers for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are described. To this end [11C]carbon monoxide at low concentration was used in transition metal- mediated reactions. Stille couplings were employed in the synthesis of [carbonyl-11C]ketones from methyl and aryl halides with [11C]carbon monoxide. The synthesized [carbonyl-11C]ketones were obtained from the corresponding organostannanes with analytical radiochemical yields up to 98%. A number of synthetic routes were designed using [11C]carbon monoxide and rhodium complexes. Nitrene intermediates were generated from azides and reacted via a rhodium-mediated carbonylation reaction as a general synthetic route to [carbonyl-11C]isocyanates, versatile precursors. [carbonyl-11C]Isocyanate reacted via nucleophilic attack of an amine to form N,N’-diphenyl[11C]urea in 82% analytical radiochemical yield, ethyl phenyl[11C]carbamate was synthesized by the same route, using ethanol as the nucleophile, in 70% radiochemical yield. [11C]Isocyanate was also able to react in a [2+3] cycloaddition with ethylene oxide to form 3-phenyl[carbonyl-11C]oxazolidin-2-one in over 80% analytical radiochemical yield. This method was applied to the synthesis of a potential efflux system tracer [11C]hydroxyurea in 38% isolated radiochemical yield and the derivative 1-hydroxy-3-phenyl[11C]urea in 35% isolated radiochemical yield. Carbene intermediates, generated from diazo compounds, were reacted with [11C]carbon monoxide in the rhodium-mediated synthesis of [carbonyl-11C]ketenes. [carbonyl-11C]Ketene intermediates were utilised in the synthesis of diethyl[carbonyl-11C]malonate, from ethyl diazoacetate and ethanol. The product was obtained with a 20% isolated radiochemical yield. Alkylation of diethyl[carbonyl-11C]malonate, with ethyliodide and tetrabutylammonium fluoride, was successfully accomplished and diethyl diethyl[carbonyl-11C]malonate was synthesized in 50% analytical radiochemical yield. Several (carbonyl-13C)compounds were also synthesized using the described methods as a way of characterizing the position of the label using 13C-NMR.

<p>One-step photoinitiated free radical carbonylation was employed for the rapid (5–7 min) labelling of aliphatic carboxylic acids, esters, and amides with a short-lived positron emitter ¹¹C (t_½ = 20.3 min) at the carbonyl position. The labelled compounds were synthesized from alkyl iodides (0.05–0.1 mmol), [¹¹C]carbon monoxide, and appropriate nucleophiles. Decay-corrected radiochemical yields were up to 74%; conversion of [¹¹C]carbon monoxide reached 85–90%; specific radioactivity was 158–192 GBq/mmol. The labelled compounds were identified and characterized using HPLC, LC-MS, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The effects of solvents, additives, photoirradiation, temperature, and reaction time were studied and discussed.</p><p>[<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]Amides were synthesized using amines in 1–2 equiv. to iodides, exploiting solvent effects to control reactivity. [<i>carboxyl-</i>¹¹C]Acids were synthesized using water as a nucleophile, in binary and ternary aqueous solvent mixtures; the addition of TBAOH or KOH was necessary to obtain high radiochemical yields. [<i>carbonyl-</i>¹¹C]Esters were synthesized using primary and secondary alcohols, <i>tert-</i>butanol, and phenol. Bases were KOH, BuLi, LiHDMS.</p><p>The effects of photosensitizers were studied and exploited to accelerate the labelling of carboxylic acids and esters resulting in 75–85% decay-corrected radiochemical yields under mild conditions without the use of bases.</p><p>A mild procedure for the ¹¹C-carboxylation of alkyl iodides using DMSO as an oxygen nucleophile was developed. This method is expected to be suitable in the macroscale synthesis of carboxylic acids using isotopically unmodified carbon monoxide.</p><p>Radical carbonylation was applied to improve the synthesis of an extensively used PET tracer, [<i>carbonyl</i>-¹¹C]WAY-100635. The tracer was synthesized in one step, whereas a common approach via Grignard reagents requires three steps.</p><p>In addition, several (¹³C)compounds were synthesised using the described methods.</p><p>Free radical carbonylation may be used for the ¹¹C-carbonylation of alkyl iodides, whereas transition-metal carbonylation – of aryl halides and triflates. Thus, the two carbonylation methods are complementary with respect to the scope of synthetic targets.</p>

One-step photoinitiated free radical carbonylation was employed for the rapid (5–7 min) labelling of aliphatic carboxylic acids, esters, and amides with a short-lived positron emitter 11C (t½ = 20.3 min) at the carbonyl position. The labelled compounds were synthesized from alkyl iodides (0.05–0.1 mmol), [11C]carbon monoxide, and appropriate nucleophiles. Decay-corrected radiochemical yields were up to 74%; conversion of [11C]carbon monoxide reached 85–90%; specific radioactivity was 158–192 GBq/mmol. The labelled compounds were identified and characterized using HPLC, LC-MS, and 1H and 13C NMR. The effects of solvents, additives, photoirradiation, temperature, and reaction time were studied and discussed. [carbonyl-11C]Amides were synthesized using amines in 1–2 equiv. to iodides, exploiting solvent effects to control reactivity. [carboxyl-11C]Acids were synthesized using water as a nucleophile, in binary and ternary aqueous solvent mixtures; the addition of TBAOH or KOH was necessary to obtain high radiochemical yields. [carbonyl-11C]Esters were synthesized using primary and secondary alcohols, tert-butanol, and phenol. Bases were KOH, BuLi, LiHDMS. The effects of photosensitizers were studied and exploited to accelerate the labelling of carboxylic acids and esters resulting in 75–85% decay-corrected radiochemical yields under mild conditions without the use of bases. A mild procedure for the 11C-carboxylation of alkyl iodides using DMSO as an oxygen nucleophile was developed. This method is expected to be suitable in the macroscale synthesis of carboxylic acids using isotopically unmodified carbon monoxide. Radical carbonylation was applied to improve the synthesis of an extensively used PET tracer, [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635. The tracer was synthesized in one step, whereas a common approach via Grignard reagents requires three steps. In addition, several (13C)compounds were synthesised using the described methods. Free radical carbonylation may be used for the 11C-carbonylation of alkyl iodides, whereas transition-metal carbonylation – of aryl halides and triflates. Thus, the two carbonylation methods are complementary with respect to the scope of synthetic targets.