Method for synthesizing iodo- or astatoarenes using diaryliodonium salts

A method of synthesizing an astatoarene comprising reacting a diaryliodonium compound with an astatide salt, wherein the diaryliodonium compound is of formula (II):

• wherein:
• Ar1 and Ar2, independently of each other, are chosen from:
• (C6-C10)aryl and heteroaryl groups, said aryl and heteroaryl groups being substituted with one or several substituents selected from:
• (C1-C6)alkyl, (C2-C6)alkynyl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, halogen, NO2, CN, N3, CF3, —ORa, —COORb, —C(O)R8, —N═C═O, —N═C═S, —N(Ra)COORb, —(C1-C6)alkylene-N(Ra)—C(O)—Rb, —(C1-C6)alkylene-N(Ra)—C(O)—(C1-C6)alkylene-Rb, —(C1-C6)alkylene-N(Ra)—C(O)—(C1-C6)alkylene-C(O)O—Rb and maleimidyl, said (C1-C6)alkyl group being optionally substituted with one or several substituents selected from N3, OH, OCH3, CF3, —O—CH2—O—(C1-C6)alkyl, O—(C1-C6)alkenyl and —O—(C1-C6)alkylene-(C6-C10)aryl;
• Ra is H or (C1-C6) alkyl;
• Rb is selected from the group consisting of:
• H, (C1-C6) alkyl, and functional groups able to bind a vector and/or a biomolecule;
• and
• Y is a monovalent anion.