The crystal structure of a precursor used for fluorine-18 attachment to other biomolecules.
What is it about?
A crystal structure of the N,N,N-Trimethyl-5-[(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenoxy)carbonyl]pyridin-2-aminium trifluoromethanesulfonate precursor was obtained to show that the counter anion of chloride was replaced with a trifluoromethanesulfonate anion.
Why is it important?
This work illustrates that anion replacement of a chloride can be achieved via reaction with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate a crucial step in the synthesis of the N,N,N-trimethyl-5-[(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenoxy) carbonyl]pyridin-2-aminium trifluoromethanesulfonatetetrafluorophenylester precursor synthesis, because the subsequent radioisotopic incorporation of fluorine-18 would fail if remaining amounts of chloride are present. Radiolabeling of molecules/biomolecules can be challenging and providing alternative means to achieve good radioisotopic incorporation and radiolabeling yields can provide an avenue to explore questions in biology and disease by positron detection.