A novel sulfonated prosthetic group for [18F]-radiolabelling and imparting water solubility of biomolecules and cyanine fluorophores.

Synthesis and some applications of a novel [(18)F]-fluorinated prosthetic group based on the promising sultone radiochemistry and suitable for the labelling of amine-containing (bio)chemical compounds are described. The combined sequential use of two easy and efficient conjugation reactions namely the fluoride ring-opening of a 1,3-propanesultone moiety and the aminolysis of an N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester is the key component of this original radiolabelling strategy. The mild reaction conditions and the release of a free sulfonic acid moiety as a result of the [(18)F]-induced sultone ring-opening reaction, both make this [(18)F]-conjugation method suitable for the radiofluorination of fragile and hydrophobic biomolecules and fluorophores, particularly by making the separation of the targeted [(18)F]-tagged sulfonated compound from its starting precursor easier and thus faster.

Synthesis and reactivity of a bis-sultone cross-linker for peptide conjugation and [18F]-radiolabelling via unusual "double click" approach.

A novel homobifunctional cross-linker based on a bis-sultone benzenic scaffold was synthesised. The potential utility of this bioconjugation reagent was demonstrated through the preparation of an original prosthetic group suitable for the [(18)F]-labelling of peptides. The labelling strategy is based on the nucleophilic fluorination via the ring-opening of a first sultone moiety followed by the nucleophilic ring-opening of the second remanent sultone by a reactive amine of the biopolymer.