Synthesis and preliminary in vivo evaluation of 4‐[18F]fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide,a potential PET radioligand for the 5‐HT1A receptor

4‐Fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide is a full 5‐HT_1A agonist with high affinity (pK_i=9.3), selectivity and a c log P of 3.045. The corresponding PET radioligand 4‐[¹⁸F]fluoro‐N‐{2‐[4‐(6‐trifluoromethylpyridin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethyl}benzamide was synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution on the nitro precursor. The fluorinating agent K[¹⁸F]F/Kryptofix 2.2.2 was both dried (9 min, 700 W) and incorporated in the precursor (5 min, 700 W) using a commercially available microwave oven. In a total synthesis time of 60 min, an overall radiochemical yield of 18% (SD=5, n=7, EOS) was obtained. Radiochemical purity was always higher than 99% and specific activity always higher than 81.4 GBq/µmol (2.2 Ci/µmol). Initial brain uptake in mice was 2.19% ID (5.47% ID/g, 2 min) but decreased rapidly (0.17% ID, 0.45% ID/g (60 min)). During the first 20 min p.i., radioactivity concentration of the brain was significantly higher than that of blood demonstrating good brain entry of the tracer. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.