Synthesis of 17F labeled fluoroalkanes

Abstract

Fluoroalkanes such as fluoromethane labeled with 17 F are produced by contacting 17 F labeled F 2 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 17 F labeled fluoroalkane. The 17 F may be produced by irradiating 20 Ne with protons, preferably having an energy of about 11 MeV and produced by a cyclotron. The 17 F labeled fluoromethane or fluoroalkanes may be produced continuously. A method for determining the location of an 17 F labeled tracer includes generating an 17 F labeled fluoroalkane, administering the 17 F labeled fluoroalkane to a test subject, and scanning the test subject with a radiosensitive detector such as a positron emission tomography scanner.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An  17 F labeled organic compound, comprising an  17 F labeled alkane having 2 or more carbon atoms.  
     
     
         2 . The  17 F labeled organic compound according to  claim 1 , wherein the alkane comprises at least two fluorine atoms and at least one of the fluorine atoms is an  17 F.  
     
     
         3 . The  17 F labeled organic compound according to  claim 2 , wherein the  17 F labeled alkane comprises 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane wherein at least one of the F atoms is an  17 F.  
     
     
         4 .  17 F labeled fluoromethane produced by contacting  17 F labeled F 2  with methane in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to produce the  17 F labeled fluoromethane.  
     
     
         5 . An  17 F labeled fluoroalkane produced by contacting  17 F labeled F 2  with an unsubstituted alkene, a haloalkene, an unsubstituted alkyne, or a haloalkyne in the presence of a metal oxide catalyst to produce the  17 F labeled fluoroalkane.