High yield synthesis of high specific activity R-(-)-[11C]epinephrine for routine PET studies in humans

Nucl Med Biol. 1993 Nov;20(8):939-44. doi: 10.1016/0969-8051(93)90094-b.

Abstract

R-(-)-[11C]Epinephrine ([11C]EPI) has been synthesized from R-(-)-norepinephrine by direct methylation with [11C]methyl iodide or [11C]methyl triflate. The total synthesis time including HPLC purification was 35-40 min. The radiochemical yields (EOB) were 5-10% for [11C]methyl iodide and 15-25% for [11C]methyl triflate. Radiochemical purity was > 98%; optical purity determined by radio-chiral HPLC was > 97%. The [11C]methyl triflate technique produces R-(-)-[11C]epinephrine in quantities (80-170 mCi) sufficient for multiple positron emission tomography studies in humans. The two synthetic methods are generally applicable to the production of other N-[11C]methyl phenolamines and N-[11C]methyl catecholamines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Epinephrine / chemical synthesis*
  • Epinephrine / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Isotope Labeling / methods*
  • Norepinephrine / chemistry
  • Norepinephrine / isolation & purification
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed

Substances

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine