Synthesis and biodistribution of [11C]fludiazepam for imaging benzodiazepine receptors.

As a tracer for in vivo studies on benzodiazepine receptors, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-[11C]methyl-2H-1,4- benzodiazepin-2-one, [11C]fludiazepam, was synthesized by the methylation of nor-derivative with [11C]CH3I, and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Within 60 min [11C]fludiazepam was obtained for injection in high radiochemical yields and in high radiochemical purity with a specific activity of up to 230 mCi/mumol. After i.