Synthesis of [11C]PBR170, a novel imidazopyridine, for imaging the translocator protein with PET

The translocator protein (TSPO) ligand 2-(6,8-dichloro-2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-N-(2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-N-methylacetamide (PBR170), is a novel imidazopyridineacetamide with high affinity (2.6 nm) and selectivity for the TSPO. The synthesis of [11C]PBR170 was accomplished by N-methylation of the corresponding desmethyl precursor with [11C]methyl iodide in the presence of sodium hydroxide in dimethylformamide. [11C]PBR170 was produced in 30-45% radiochemical yield (decay-corrected, based on [11C]methyl iodide) with a radiochemical purity >98% and a specific activity of 90-190 GBq/μmol after 35 min of synthesis time.