Synthesis of new 18F-radiolabeled silicon-based nitroimidazole compounds.

The syntheses of new nitroimidazole compounds using silicon-[(18)F]fluorine chemistry for the potential detection of tumor hypoxia are described. [(18)F]silicon-based compounds were synthesized by coupling 2-nitroimidazole with silyldinaphtyl or silylphenyldi-tert-butyl groups and labeled by fluorolysis or isotopic exchange. Dinaphtyl compounds (6, 10) were labeled in 56-71% yield with a specific activity of 45 GBq/μmol, however these compounds ([(18)F]7 and [(18)F]11) were not stable in plasma.