Enantioselective syntheses of no-carrier-added (nca) (S)-4-chloro-2 F-18 fluorophenylalanine and (S)-(alpha-methyl)-4-chloro-2 F-18 fluorophenylalanine

(S)-4-Chloro-2-fluorophenylalanine and (S)-( a-methyl)-4-chloro-2-fluorophenylalanine were synthesized and labeled with no carrier added (n.c.a.) fluorine-18 through a radiochemical synthesis relying on the highly enantioselective reaction between 4-chloro-2-[18F] fluorobenzyl iodide and the lithium enolate of (2s) -1-( tert-butyloxycarbonyl) -2-( tert-butyl)-3-methyl- 1,3-imidazolidine-4-one for (S) -4-chloro-2- [18F] fluorophenylalanine and (2S,5S)-1-( tert-butyloxycarbonyl) -2-( tert-butyl) -3,5-dimethyl- 1,3-imidazolidine-4-one for (S) -( a-methyl) -4-chloro-2- [18F] fluorophenylalanine. Quantities of about 20-25 mCi were obtained at the end of synthesis, ready for injection after hydrolysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification, with a radiochemical yield of 17%-20% corrected to the end of bombardment after a total synthesis time of 90-105 min from [18F] fluoride. The enantiomeric excesses were shown to be 97% or more for both molecules without chiral separation and the radiochemical and chemical purities were 98% or better.