18F-Labelled metomidate analogues as adrenocortical imaging agents

IntroductionTwo- and one-step syntheses of 18F-labelled analogues of metomidate, such as 2-[18F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (1), 2-[18F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (2), 2-[18F]fluoroethyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (3), 3-[18F]fluoropropyl 1-[(1R)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (4) and 3-[18F]fluoropropyl 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (5) are presented.MethodsAnalogues 1–5 were prepared by a two-step reaction sequence that started with the synthesis of either 2-[18F]fluoroethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate or 3-[18F]fluoropropyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate. These were used as 18F-alkylating agents in the second step, in which they reacted with the ammonium salt of a 1-[(1R)-1-phenylethyl]-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid. One-step-labelling syntheses of 1, 2 and 5 were also explored. Analogues 1–4 were biologically validated by frozen-section autoradiography and organ distribution. Metabolite analysis was performed for 2 and 3.ResultsThe radiochemical yield of the two-step synthesis was in the range of 10–29% and that of the one-step synthesis was 25–37%. Using microwave irradiation in the one-step synthesis of 1 and 2 increased the radiochemical yield to 46±3% and 79±30%, respectively.ConclusionBoth the frozen-section autoradiography and organ distribution results indicated that analogue 2 has a potential as an adrenocortical imaging agent, having the highest degree of specific adrenal binding and best ratio of adrenal to organ uptake among the compounds studied.