Synthesis of 17F labeled fluoroalkanes

Abstract

Fluoroalkanes such as fluoromethane labeled with 17F are produced by contacting 17F labeled F2 with alkanes, preferably methane, substituted or unsubstituted alkenes, or substituted or unsubstituted alkynes in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst, preferably a silver oxide catalyst, to produce the 17F labeled fluoroalkane. The 17F may be produced by irradiating 20Ne with protons, preferably having an energy of about 11 MeV and produced by a cyclotron. The 17F labeled fluoromethane or fluoroalkanes may be produced continuously. A method for determining the location of an 17F labeled tracer includes generating an 17F labeled fluoroalkane, administering the 17F labeled fluoroalkane to a test subject, and scanning the test subject with a radiosensitive detector such as a positron emission tomography scanner.

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