Search Results (9)

Transition-metal-catalyzed directed C–H functionalization with various carbene precursors has been widely employed for constructing a wide range of complex and diverse active molecules through metal carbene migratory insertion processes. Among various carbene precursors, iodonium ylides serve as a novel and emerging carbene precursor with features including easy accessibility, thermal stability and high activity, which have attracted great attention from organic chemists and have achieved tremendous success in organic transformation. In this review, recent progress on the application of iodonium ylides with multifunctional coupling characteristics in C–H bond activation reactions is summarized, and the potential of iodonium ylides is discussed. Full article

Central nervous system tumors related to gliomas are of neuroectodermal origin and cover about 30% of all primary brain tumors. Glioma is not susceptible to any therapy and surgical attack remains one of the main approaches to its treatment. Preoperative tumor imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography (PET), are currently used to distinguish malignant tissue to increase the accuracy of glioma removal. However, PET is lacking a specific visualization of cells possessing certain molecular markers. Here, we report an application of aptamers to enhancing specificity in imaging tumor cells bearing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Glioblastoma is characterized by increased EGFR expression, as well as mutations of this receptor associated with active division, migration, and adhesion of tumor cells. Since 2021, EGFR has been included into the WHO classification of gliomas as a molecular genetic marker. To obtain conjugates of aptamers GR20 and GOL1-specific to EGFR, a 4-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzylazide radiotracer was used as a synthon. For the production of the synthon, a method of automatic synthesis on an Eckert & Ziegler research module was adapted and modified using spirocyclic iodonium ylide as a precursor. Conjugation of 4-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzylazide and alkyne-modified aptamers was carried out using Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) with/without the TBTA ligand. As a result, it was possible to obtain ¹⁸F-labelled conjugates with 97% radiochemical purity for [¹⁸F]FB-GR20 and 98% for [¹⁸F]FB-GOL1. The obtained conjugates can be used for further studies in PET analysis on model animals with grafted glioblastoma. Full article

Iodonium ylides have recently attracted much attention on account of their synthetic applications. However, only a limited number of reports concerning the properties and reactivity of iodonium ylides exist, which is partly due to their instability. In this study, we synthesized several iodonium ylides that bear both an electron-withdrawing group and an aromatic ring with an ortho-t-BuSO₂ group. Based on the crystal structures of the synthesized iodonium ylides in combination with natural-bond-orbital (NBO) calculations, we estimated the strength of the intra- and intermolecular halogen-bonding interactions. In addition, we investigated the reactivity of the iodonium ylides under photoirradiation. Full article

[¹⁸F]FPEB is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical used for imaging the abundance and distribution of mGluR5 in the central nervous system (CNS). Efficient radiolabeling of the aromatic ring of [¹⁸F]FPEB has been an ongoing challenge. Herein, five metal-free precursors for the radiofluorination of [¹⁸F]FPEB were compared, namely, a chloro-, nitro-, sulfonium salt, and two spirocyclic iodonium ylide (SCIDY) precursors bearing a cyclopentyl (SPI5) and a new adamantyl (SPIAd) auxiliary. The chloro- and nitro-precursors resulted in a low radiochemical yield (<10% RCY), whereas both SCIDY precursors and the sulfonium salt precursor produced [¹⁸F]FPEB in the highest RCYs of 25% and 36%, respectively. Preliminary PET/CT imaging studies with [¹⁸F]FPEB were conducted in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) using B6C3-Tg(APPswe,PSEN1dE9)85Dbo/J (APP/PS1) mice, and data were compared with age-matched wild-type (WT) B6C3F1/J control mice. In APP/PS1 mice, whole brain distribution at 5 min post-injection showed a slightly higher uptake (SUV = 4.8 ± 0.4) than in age-matched controls (SUV = 4.0 ± 0.2). Further studies to explore mGluR5 as an early biomarker for AD are underway. Full article

Herein, we present a one-step labeling procedure of N-succinimidyl-4-[¹⁸F]-fluorobenzoate ([¹⁸F]SFB) starting from spirocyclic iodonium ylide precursors. Precursor syntheses succeeded via a simple one-pot, two-step synthesis sequence, in yields of approximately 25%. Subsequent ¹⁸F-nucleophilic aromatic labeling was performed, and radiochemical incorporations (RCCs) from 5–35% were observed. Purification could be carried out using HPLC and subsequent solid phase extraction. Radiochemical purity (RCP) of >95% was determined. The total synthesis time, including purification and formulation, was no longer than 60 min. In comparison to the established 3-step synthesis route of [¹⁸F]SFB, this one-step approach avoids formation of volatile radioactive side-products and simplifies automatization. Full article

The first electrophilic diastereoselective direct introduction of the difluoromethylthio group is described. We used a chiral auxiliary-based approach to illustrate the versatility of our recently developed difluoromethanesulfonyl hypervalent iodonium ylide reagents for the difluoromethylthiolation of indanone-based β-keto esters. Chiral SCF₂H-featuring compounds were obtained in up to 93% ee value. Full article

Nitric oxide (NO), an important multifunctional signaling molecule, is produced by three isoforms of NO-synthase (NOS) and has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Selective inhibitors of the subtypes iNOS (inducible) or nNOS (neuronal) are of great interest for decoding neurodestructive key factors, and ¹⁸F-labelled analogues would allow investigating the NOS-function by molecular imaging with positron emission tomography. Especially, the highly selective nNOS inhibitor 6-((3-((3-fluorophenethylamino)methyl)phenoxy)methyl)-4-methylpyridin-2-amine (10) lends itself as suitable compound to be ¹⁸F-labelled in no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) form. For preparation of the ¹⁸F-labelled nNOS-Inhibitor [¹⁸F]10 a “build-up” radiosynthesis was developed based on a corresponding iodonium ylide as labelling precursor. The such activated phenethyl group of the compound was efficiently and regioselectively labelled with n.c.a. [¹⁸F]fluoride in 79% radiochemical yield (RCY). After conversion by reductive amination and microwave assisted displacement of the protecting groups, the desired nNOS-inhibitor was obtained in about 15% total RCY. Alternatively, for a simplified “late-stage” ¹⁸F-labelling procedure a corresponding boronic ester precursor was synthesized and successfully used in a newer, copper(II) mediated n.c.a. ¹⁸F-fluoro-deboroniation reaction, achieving the same total RCY. Thus, both methods proved comparatively suited to provide the highly selective NOS-inhibitor [¹⁸F]10 as probe for preclinical in vivo studies. Full article

Substituted phenylpiperazines are often neuropharmacologically active compounds and in many cases are essential pharmacophores of neuroligands for different receptors such as D₂-like dopaminergic, serotoninergic and other receptors. Nucleophilic, no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) ¹⁸F-labelling of these ligands in an aromatic position is desirable for studying receptors with in vivo molecular imaging. 1-(4-[¹⁸F]Fluorophenyl)piperazine was synthesized in two reaction steps starting by ¹⁸F-labelling of a iodobenzene-iodonium precursor, followed by Pd-catalyzed N-arylation of the intermediate 4-[¹⁸F]fluoro-iodobenzene. Different palladium catalysts and solvents were tested with particular attention to the polar solvents dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Weak inorganic bases like potassium phosphate or cesium carbonate seem to be essential for the arylation step and lead to conversation rates above 70% in DMF which is comparable to those in typically used toluene. In DMSO even quantitative conversation was observed. Overall radiochemical yields of up to 40% and 60% in DMF and DMSO, respectively, were reached depending on the labelling yield of the first step. The fluorophenylpiperazine obtained was coupled in a third reaction step with 2-formyl-1H-indole-5-carbonitrile to yield the highly selective dopamine D₄ ligand [¹⁸F]FAUC 316. Full article

Reaction of dibenzoylmethane with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene in the presence of KOH in MeCN quantitatively gave the corresponding iodonium ylide, which was treated with a HF reagent to afford the corresponding 2-fluorinated dibenzoylmethane in 14–50% yields. The similar reaction of the iodonium ylides obtained from 1-phenylbutan-1,3-dione, ethyl benzoylacetate, and ethyl p-nitrobenzoylacetate with TEA·3HF gave the corresponding fluorinated products in 17–34% yields. It is suggested that the fluorinated products were formed through the C-protonation of the ylide, followed by displacement with fluoride ion. The same reaction of the iodonium ylide of dibenzoylmethane with concentrated HCl gave the corresponding chlorinated product in 45% yield. Full article