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The methyl groups of [ methyl-( S)]- and [ methyl-( R)]-[ methyl-D,T]-l-methionine fed to Streptomyces fradiae were incorporated into fosfomycin, which was chemically degraded to chiral AcONa. The enzymatic test gave the ( S)-configuration for the chiral AcONa derived from methionine with the ( S)-[D,T]methyl group ( F = 31.7) and ( R) for the one derived from methionine with the ( R)-[D,T]methyl group ( F = 83.0). The radical SAM methyltransferase transfers the methyl group of MeCbl to HEP-CMP with inversion of configuration.

Acetyl-protected 1-(β-d-galactopyranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole was converted to a potential precursor for a fluorine-18 labeled hypoxia tumor marker. Two nonradioactive standards, the 6′-deoxy-6′-fluorogalactosyl and the 4′-deoxy-4′-fluoroglucosyl analogue were also prepared. These 2-nitroimidazole nucleosides were prepared by a modified Vorbrüggen coupling.

Introduction Radiolabeled 2-nitroimidazoles (azomycins) are a prominent class of biomarkers for PET imaging of hypoxia. [ 18 F]Fluoro-azomycin- α -arabinoside ([ 18 F]FAZA) – already in clinical use – may be seen as α -configuration nucleoside, but enters cells only via diffusion and is not transported by cellular nucleoside transporters. To enhance image contrast in comparison to [ 18 F]FAZA our objective was to 18 F-radiolabel an azomycin-2´-deoxyriboside with β -configuration ([ 18 F]FAZDR, [ 18 F]- β - 8 ) to mimic nucleosides more closely and comparatively evaluate it versus [ 18 F]FAZA. Methods Precursor and cold standards for [ 18 F]FAZDR were synthesized from methyl 2-deoxy-d-ribofuranosides α - and β - 1 in 6 steps yielding precursors α - and β - 5 . β - 5 was radiolabeled in a GE TRACERlab FX F-N synthesizer in DMSO and deprotected with NH 4 OH to give [ 18 F]FAZDR ([ 18 F]- β - 8 ). [ 18 F]FAZA or [ 18 F]FAZDR was injected in BALB/c mice bearing CT26 colon carcinoma xenografts, PET scans (10min) were performed after 1, 2 and 3h post injection (p.i.). On a subset of mice injected with [ 18 F]FAZDR, we analyzed biodistribution. Results [ 18 F]FAZDR was obtained in non-corrected yields of 10.9±2.4% (9.1±2.2GBq, n=4) 60min EOB, with radiochemical purity >98% and specific activity >50GBq/μmol. Small animal PET imaging showed a decrease in uptake over time for both [ 18 F]FAZDR (1h p.i.: 0.56±0.22% ID/cc, 3h: 0.17±0.08% ID/cc, n=9) and [ 18 F]FAZA (1h: 1.95±0.59% ID/cc, 3h: 0.87±0.55% ID/cc), whereas T/M ratios were significantly higher for [ 18 F]FAZDR at 1h (2.76) compared to [ 18 F]FAZA (1.69, P 18 F]FAZDR showed an inverse correlation between tracer uptake in carcinomas and oxygen breathing, while muscle tissue uptake was not affected by switching from air to oxygen. Conclusions First PET imaging results with [ 18 F]FAZDR showed advantages over [ 18 F]FAZA regarding higher tumor contrast at earlier time points p.i. Availability of precursor and cold fluoro standard together with high output radiosynthesis will allow for a more detailed quantitative evaluation of [ 18 F]FAZDR, especially with regard to mechanistic studies whether active transport processes are involved, compared to passive diffusion as observed for [ 18 F]FAZA.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 (18F)-labeled 2-nitroimidazole radiotracers has proven useful for assessment of tumor oxygenation. However, the passive diffusion-driven cellular uptake of currently available radiotracers results in slow kinetics and low tumor-to-background ratios. With the aim to develop a compound that is actively transported into cells, 1-(6'-deoxy-6'-[18F]fluoro-β-d-allofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (β-[18F]1), a putative nucleoside transporter substrate, was synthetized by nucleophilic [18F]fluoride substitution of an acetyl protected labeling precursor with a tosylate leaving group (β-6) in a final radiochemical yield of 12±8% (n=10, based on [18F]fluoride starting activity) in a total synthesis time of 60min with a specific activity at end of synthesis of 218±58GBq/μmol (n=10). Both radiolabeling precursor β-6 and unlabeled reference compound β-1 were prepared in multistep syntheses starting from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-allofuranose. In vitro experiments demonstrated an interaction of β-1 with SLC29A1 and SLC28A1/2/3 nucleoside transporter as well as hypoxia specific retention of β-[18F]1 in tumor cell lines. In biodistribution studies in healthy mice β-[18F]1 showed homogenous tissue distribution and excellent metabolic stability, which was unaffected by tissue oxygenation. PET studies in tumor bearing mice showed tumor-to-muscle ratios of 2.13±0.22 (n=4) at 2h after administration of β-[18F]1. In ex vivo autoradiography experiments β-[18F]1 distribution closely matched staining with the hypoxia marker pimonidazole. In conclusion, β-[18F]1 shows potential as PET hypoxia radiotracer which merits further investigation.

The benefits of PET imaging of tumor hypoxia in patient management has been demonstrated in many examples and with various tracers over the last years. Although, the optimal hypoxia imaging agent has yet to be found, 2-nitroimidazole (azomycin) sugar derivatives—mimicking nucleosides—have proven their potential with [18F]FAZA ([18F]fluoro-azomycin-α-arabinoside) as a prominent representative in clinical use. Still, for all of these tracers, cellular uptake by passive diffusion is postulated with the disadvantage of slow kinetics and low tumor-to-background ratios. We recently evaluated [18F]fluoro-azomycin-β-deoxyriboside (β-[18F]FAZDR), with a structure more similar to nucleosides than [18F]FAZA and possible interaction with nucleoside transporters. For a deeper insight, we comparatively studied the interaction of FAZA, β-FAZA, α-FAZDR and β-FAZDR with nucleoside transporters (SLC29A1/2 and SLC28A1/2/3) in vitro, showing variable interactions of the compounds. The highest interactions being for β-FAZDR (IC50 124 ± 33 µM for SLC28A3), but also for FAZA with the non-nucleosidic α-configuration, the interactions were remarkable (290 ± 44 µM {SLC28A1}; 640 ± 10 µM {SLC28A2}). An improved synthesis was developed for β-FAZA. For a PET study in tumor-bearing mice, α-[18F]FAZDR was synthesized (radiochemical yield: 15.9 ± 9.0% (n = 3), max. 10.3 GBq, molar activity > 50 GBq/µmol) and compared to β-[18F]FAZDR and [18F]FMISO, the hypoxia imaging gold standard. We observed highest tumor-to-muscle ratios (TMR) for β-[18F]FAZDR already at 1 h p.i. (2.52 ± 0.94, n = 4) in comparison to [18F]FMISO (1.37 ± 0.11, n = 5) and α-[18F]FAZDR (1.93 ± 0.39, n = 4), with possible mediation by the involvement of nucleoside transporters. After 3 h p.i., TMR were not significantly different for all 3 tracers (2.5–3.0). Highest clearance from tumor tissue was observed for β-[18F]FAZDR (56.6 ± 6.8%, 2 h p.i.), followed by α-[18F]FAZDR (34.2 ± 7.5%) and [18F]FMISO (11.8 ± 6.5%). In conclusion, both isomers of [18F]FAZDR showed their potential as PET hypoxia tracers. Differences in uptake behavior may be attributed to a potential variable involvement of transport mechanisms.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorine-18 (

3-(Trimethylstannyl)benzyl alcohol was coupled in a Mitsunobu reaction with bis(Boc)-guanidine to give bis(Boc)-protected 3-(trimethylstannyl)benzylguanidine used as precursor for [*I]MIBG. Radioiodination with [131I]iodine generated from [131I]NaI and chloramine-T, removal of Boc groups, and purification by HPLC gave no-carrier-added tracer [*I]MIBG (81% radiochemical yield, 99% chemical purity) used for imaging tumors of neuroendocrine origin. The structures of bis(Boc)-guanidine and bis(Boc)-protected 3-(trimethylstannyl)benzylguanidine were secured by single crystal X-ray structure analyses.

2-Nitroimidazole was silylated using hexaethyldisilazane and then reacted with 1-O-acetyl derivatives of D-arabinose, D-ribose, and D-galactose in acetonitrile at mild temperatures (-20 °C to rt), catalyzed by triethylsilyl triflate (Vorbrüggen conditions). The α-anomer was formed in the former case and the β-anomers in the latter two cases (highly) selectively. When D-arabinose and D-ribose were silylated with tert-butyldiphenylsilyl chloride in pyridine at the hydroxyl groups at C-5 and acetylated at the other ones in a one-pot reaction, mixtures of anomeric 1-O-acetyl derivatives were obtained. These were coupled by the Vorbrüggen method and then deblocked at C-5 and tosylated to give precursors for tracers to image hypoxia in four steps without using Hg(CN)(2) necessary for other methods. The Vorbrüggen conditions enable a shorter route to azomycin nucleoside analogues than the previous coupling procedures.

(±)-ω-Halo-α-(chloroacetoxy)phosphonates were kinetically resolved by use of a protease (Chirazyme ® P-2). The esters recovered at levels of conversion between 56 and 72 % furnished (S)-alcohols of 99 % ee. These were converted via azides into the phosphonic acid analogues of L -lysine, L -proline, L -ornithine and L -pipecolic acid. (-)-Phosphaproline was transformed into crystalline ureas derived from (R)- and (S)-1-phenylethyl isocyanate. X-ray structure analyses revealed that the levorotary phosphaproline has the R configuration, contrary to earlier reports.

Ethyl 2,2′-bipyridine-5-carboxylate was converted to (2,2′-bipyridine-5-yl)methanol and (S)-1-(2,2′-bipyridine-5-yl)ethanol. The latter synthesis comprised five steps and resolution by HPLC on a chiral stationary phase. Both alcohols were reacted with methyl 1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate in a Mitsunobu reaction to give mixtures of the desired methyl 1-(2,2′-bipyridine-5-yl)alkyl-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate as main product and the methyl 1-(2,2′-bipyridine-5-yl)alkyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate as side product. The structure of (R)-(−)-methyl 1-(2,2′-bipyridine-5-yl)ethyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxylate was determined by X-ray structure analysis.

[ D 2 ]Methanol was converted to the carbamate derived from 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. It was metalated with s -BuLi/TMEDA at −78 °C with a high primary kinetic isotope effect to give an α-oxymethyllithium, which was silylated with chlorodimethylphenylsilane. The silylmethyl carbamate formed was lithiated and borylated with the borate derived from tert -butanol and ( R , R )-1,2-dicyclohexylethane-1,2-diol to give diastereomeric boronates, which were separated by preparative HPLC and can in principle be converted to enantiopure chiral methanols. Thus, both enantiomers are easily accessible in nine linear steps.

We resolved 1,2-diphenylethylamine (DPEA) into its (S)- and (R)-enantiomer and used them as precursors for synthesis of (S)- and (R)-1-(1,2-diphenylethyl)piperidine, flexible homeomorphs of the NMDA channel blocker MK-801. We also describe the synthesis of the dicyclohexyl analogues of DPEA. These and related compounds were tested as inhibitors of [(3)H]MK-801 binding to rat brain membranes. Stereospecificity ranged between factors of 0.5 and 50. Some blockers exhibited stereospecific sensitivity to the modulator spermine. Our results may help to elucidate in more detail the NMDA channel pharmacophore.

The first step of the mineralisation of fosfomycin by R. huakuii PMY1 is hydrolytic ring opening with the formation of (1R,2R)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonic acid. This phosphonic acid and its three stereoisomers were synthesised by chemical means and tested as their ammonium salts for mineralisation as evidenced by release of P(i). Only the (1R,2R)-isomer was degraded. A number of salts of phosphonic acids such as (+/-)-1,2-epoxybutyl-, (+/-)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl-, 2-oxopropyl-, (S)-2-hydroxypropyl-, (+/-)-1-hydroxypropyl- and (+/-)-1-hydroxy-2-oxopropylphosphonic acid were synthesised chemically, but none supported growth. In vitro C-P bond cleavage activity was however detected with the last phosphonic acid. A mechanism involving phosphite had to be discarded as it could not be used as a phosphorus source. R. huakuii PMY1 grew well on (R)- and (S)-lactic acid and hydroxyacetone, but less well on propionic acid and not on acetone or (R)- and (+/-)-1,2-propanediol. The P(i) released from (1R,2R)-1,2-dihydroxypropylphosphonic acid labelled with one oxygen-18 in the PO3H2 group did not stay long enough in the cells to allow complete exchange of 18O for 16O by enzymic turnover.