Synthesis and evaluation of [123I]‐indomethacin derivatives as COX‐2 targeted imaging agents

A novel series of iodinated indomethacin derivatives was synthesized, and evaluated as selective inhibitors of COX-2. Two candidate compounds N-(p-iodobenzyl)-2-(1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetamide (3) and 1-(p-iodobenzyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-indoleacetic acid (9) possessed optimum properties suitable for potential in vivo imaging. Arylstannane precursors for radioiododestannylation were synthesized in 70–85% yield from the iodo compounds by reaction with hexabutylditin and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in refluxing dioxane. Radioiododestannylation was conducted by reaction with carrier-added Na[123I] in the presence of Chloramine-T in an EtOAc/H2O binary system under acidic conditions (pH 3.5), allowing direct isolation of the labeled products by separation of the organic phase. Radioiodinated products [123I]3 and [123I]9 were recovered in a decay-corrected radiochemical yield of 86–87% and radiochemical purity of 98–99%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.