Synthesis, radiolabeling, and biological evaluation of (R)- and (S)-2-amino-3-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid (FAMP) and (R)- and (S)-3-[(18)F]fluoro-2-methyl-2-N-(methylamino)propanoic acid (NMeFAMP) as potential PET radioligands for imaging brain tumors

J Med Chem. 2010 Jan 28;53(2):876-86. doi: 10.1021/jm900556s.

Abstract

The non-natural amino acids (R)- and (S)-2-amino-3-fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid 5 and (R)- and (S)-3-fluoro-2-methyl-2-N-(methylamino)propanoic acid 8 were synthesized in shorter reaction sequences than in the original report starting from enantiomerically pure (S)- and (R)-alpha-methyl-serine, respectively. The reaction sequence provided the cyclic sulfamidate precursors for radiosynthesis of (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]5 and (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]8 in fewer steps than in the original report. (R)- and (S)-[(18)F]5 and(R)- and (S)-[(18)F]8 were synthesized by no-carrier-added nucleophilic [(18)F]fluorination in 52-66% decay-corrected yields with radiochemical purity over 99%. The cell assays showed that all four compounds were substrates for amino acid transport and enter 9L rat gliosarcoma cells in vitro at least in part by system A amino acid transport. The biodistribution studies demonstrated that in vivo tumor to normal brain ratios for all compounds were high with ratios of 20:1 to115:1 in rats with intracranial 9L tumors. The (R)-enantiomers of [(18)F]5 and [(18)F]8 demonstrated higher tumor uptake in vivo compared to the (S)-enantiomers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / pharmacokinetics
  • Aminoisobutyric Acids* / chemical synthesis
  • Aminoisobutyric Acids* / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Brain Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Isotope Labeling / methods
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / chemical synthesis
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics
  • Rats
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • 2-amino-3-fluoro-2-methylpropanoic acid
  • Amino Acids
  • Aminoisobutyric Acids
  • Radiopharmaceuticals