Journal Article

FZJ-2026-02733

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Aryl Sulfamoyl [18F]Fluorides: Preparation via Base-Free SuFEx 18F-Fluorination and Assessment of Their Applicability as PET Tracers

Bertram, J.FZJ* ; Gokhadze, O.FZJ* ; Neumaier, F.FZJ* ; Wang, Q. ; Dreiling, A. ; Vieth, L.FZJ* ; Endepols, H.FZJ* ; Neumaier, B. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Zlatopolskiy, B. D.

2026
ACS Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6c00147  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-02733

Abstract: N-Aryl sulfamoyl fluorides (ArSAFs) are hydrolytically stable motifs widely used in drug design, yet their suitability for radiotracer development has not been explored. Here, we report the efficient radiosynthesis of [18F]ArSAFs by base-free sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx), affording high molar activities from nanomolar precursor amounts. The resulting compounds exhibited excellent in vitro stability across a wide pH range and in human plasma. In vivo studies in mice confirmed high metabolic stability for selected N-alkyl-N-aryl derivatives. Additionally, several Nin[18F]SAF-substituted tryptophan analogues showed up to 2−3-fold higher cellular uptake than the current gold standard [18F]FET in U87 MG glioblastoma cells, and their accumulation was sensitive to inhibition of amino acid transporters. However, Nin-[18F]SAFsubstituted indole derivatives exhibited rapid in vivo defluorination, independent of substitution pattern. In contrast, [18F]SAFsubstituted dihydrotryptophan and 4-(MeNH)Phe derivatives showed high in vivo stability. These findings establish N-alkyl-N-aryl sulfamoyl [18F]fluorides as robust and accessible scaffolds for radiotracer development.

Note: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), grant numbers ZL 65/4-1, ZL 65/3-1, and EN 439/6-1, the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG), grant number JFZ-II-22-074, and the China Scholarship Council (CSC), grant number 202306240022.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Nuklearchemie (INM-5)

Research Program(s):

1. 5253 - Neuroimaging (POF4-525) (POF4-525)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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