A one-step automated synthesis of the dopamine transporter ligand [(18)F]FECNT from the chlorinated precursor.

The use of [(18)F]labelled nortropane derivative 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(2-fluoroethyl)-nortropane (FECNT) as a dopamine transporter ligand for PET imaging is dependent on efficient radiosynthesis method. Herein, the automated synthesis of [(18)F]FECNT from its chlorinated precursor in commercially available SynChrom [(18)F] R&D module has been developed. The synthesis unit was readily configured for the one-step synthesis from corresponding chlorinated precursor.