Synthesis of the positron-emitting radiotracer [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose from resin-bound perfluoroalkylsulfonates

A new approach to the synthesis of 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG, [19/18F]-3) is described, which employs supported perfluoroalkylsulfonate precursors 33–36, where the support consists of insoluble polystyrene resin beads. Treatment of these resins with [19F]fluoride ion afforded protected FDG [19F]-18 as the major product, and the identities of the main byproducts were determined. Acidic removal of the acetal protecting groups from [19F]-18 was shown to produce [19F]FDG. The method has been applied to the efficient radiosynthesis of the imaging agent [18F]FDG, and was shown to produce the radiochemical tracer in good radiochemical yield (average 73%, decay corrected).