Methods and devices to generate [F-18]triflyl fluoride and other [F-18] sulfonyl fluorides

A method of making [F-18]sulfonyl fluoride without any evaporation step, the method comprising:

• a) passing an aqueous [F-18]fluoride solution or solvent through a solid phase extraction column comprising an anion-exchange resin so that the [F-18]fluoride is trapped on the resin;
• b) rinsing the resin with an organic solvent to eliminate residual water;
• and
• c) eluting the [F-18]fluoride with an eluting solution to release the [F-18]fluoride from the anion-exchange resin as [F-18]RSO2F which acts as a source of [F-18]fluoride for a labeling reaction, wherein the eluting solution comprises a compound having the formula RSO2R1 and an organic solvent, wherein
• R is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, alkylaryl, substituted alkylaryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, substituted arylalkenyl, arylalkynyl, substituted arylalkynyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, methyl, trifluoromethyl, and combinations thereof;
• R1 is a leaving group;
• and
• wherein all method steps are performed with a single peristaltic pump.