A new synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-[18f]fluoro-D-galactose using [18f]fluoride ion

A nucleophilic radiofluorination of methyl 3,4-0-isopropylidene-2-0-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-6-0-trityl-β-D- talopyranoside ( 1 ) with aminopolyether (Kryptofix 2.2.2.) supported potassium ¹⁸F]fluoride in acetonitrile gave methyl 2-deoxy-2-(¹⁸F) fluoro-3,4-o-isopropylidene-6-0-trityl-β-D-galactopyranoside ( 2 ). Hydrolysis of 2 with 6N HCl followed by passage through an ion retardation resin column and a neutral alumina column gave 2-deoxy-2-¹⁸F]fluoro-D-galactose (2-¹⁸FDGal) in 36–39% overall radiochemical yield without correction for decay. The total preparation time was about 90 min from start of the radiofluorination.