Synthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-5-methyl-1-B-D-arabinofuranosyluracil (18F-FMAU)

A method of synthesizing an [18F]-labeled 2′-deoxy-arabino 5-substituted or unsubstituted uracil or cytosine nucleoside in a one-pot reaction comprising:

• a) radiolabeling a precursor sugar with 18F;
• b) contacting the 18F radiolabeled sugar with a silylated uracil or cytosine in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluorosulfonate (TMS-O-TO and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS);
• c) incubating the components in step (b) under conditions which allow for conjugation of the 18F radiolabeled sugar and the silylated uracil or cytosine derivatives;
• d) removing the protecting groups of the components in step (c);
• and
• e) purifying the deprotected product.

A method of synthesizing 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]-fluoro-5-substituted-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-uracil or -cytosine compounds in a one-pot reaction comprising:

• a) radiolabeling a precursor sugar with 18F;
• b) filtering the 18F radiolabeled sugar produced in step (a) through a cartridge;
• c) contacting the 18F radiolabeled sugar with a silylated uracil or cytosine in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst;
• d) incubating the components in step (c) under conditions which allow for conjugation of the 18F radiolabeled sugar and the silylated uracil or cytosine;
• e) incubating the components in step (d) under conditions which allow for removal of the protecting groups of the components in step (d) thereby removing the protecting groups of the components in step (d);
• and
• f) purifying the deprotected product.