The Cu + method, originally developed for aromatic compounds, has also been applied for radioiodination of pyridine rings. The aim of this paper is a more fundamental approach of the different parameters ruling the Cu + -assisted radioiodination of the regiomers of pyridine.A mechanistic model is represented on the basis of the mutual complex-formation properties of pyridine for Cu + and Sn ++ . It is proven that a part of the Cu + catalyst, required for optimal labelling, is involved in a Halo-PyrN:Cu + -complex resulting in a lower labelling yield. In case of 3-Br-pyridine and 4-Br-pyridine, the Sn ++ present in excess versus Cu + in the general reaction conditions, can displace Cu + from its pyridine complex rendering it available as catalyst, allowing a successful labelling.A 2-Br-pyridine, with the halogen atom in ortho position of the N atom, is an exception to that rule: the Cu + ions reversibly bound in the Br-Pyr-N:Cu + -complex are also involved in an intramolecular transfer to the ortho C-Br bond resulting in an effective molarity exceeding the bulk concentration and a high labelling yield.Radioiodination of a 2-halo-pyridine analogue is preferentially performed in the absence of SnSO 4 , using only gentisic acid as reducing agent.
Materials and methods
ReagentsAll reagents and solvents were obtained from commercial suppliers and were HPLC grade or analytical grade and used as such.Nitrogen was 5.0-grade and purchased from Hoekloos, The Netherlands.Radioiodide (Na 123 I, no carrier added; specific activity of 8695 GBq/mmol) was supplied by Covidien, The Netherlands.
Radioiodide recovery for labellingThe supplied Na 123 I solution (600 MBq, 60 MBq/ml, pH~7) was concentrated and recovered in a 10 À2 mol.L À1 NaOH solution, using the earlier described Values are represented as mean-values, n = 5 (mean absolute deviation: AE1.5%). Reaction mixture; 5.1 mmol precursor, 3.2 Â 10 À5 mol gentisic acid, 1.9 Â 10 À5 mol citric acid, X mol SnSO 4 and 3.9 Â 10 À7 mol CuSO 4 .5H 2 O. Reaction conditions; 40 min at 110 C. J. L. H. Eersels et al.