The preparation of new tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium and tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)technetium derivatives is described. The approach used was applied to a cold target model, 17α-ethynylestradiol substituted at the 17α position by a ketotricarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium group. The novel organometallic reaction applied here, when extended to potential radiopharmaceuticals, consists of a cyclopentadienyl-ligand transfer between ketoferrocenes and fac-

The [Re(CO) 6 ] + cation is a stable compound, soluble in aqueous media. We show that it can be used as a reagent in the synthesis of tricarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)rhenium complexes. [Re(CO) 6 ] + reacts with ferrocene derivatives, particularly acetylferrocene, in DMSO, DMF or a water/DMSO (1:1)

In our efforts to develop a novel class of SPECT imaging agents based on nonsteroidal androgen receptor (AR) antagonists, we have synthesized N-cyclopentadienyltricarbonyltechnetium-N-[4-nitro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl] carboxamide (NF(99m)Tc), an analog of the AR antagonist ligand flutamide. NF(99m)Tc was obtained in 82% yield from the reaction of N-[4-nitro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-ferrocenecarboxamide (NFFe) with fac-[(99m)Tc(H(2)O)(3)(CO)(3)](+) in DMF-water at pH 1 and at 150 °C for 1 h. The corresponding Re analog was also prepared. In vitro assays demonstrated high stability of NF(99m)Tc under physiological conditions, buffer and blood. The tissue biodistribution in mature male Wistar rats showed a significant selective uptake by prostate but this uptake was not blocked by an excess of testosterone acetate. A higher uptake by lung tissues was observed.