Synthesis and evaluation of technetium-99m monocationic mixed ligand complexes of phenyl substituted/condensed tetradentate Schiff's bases and trimethylphosphine.

Tc-99m monocationic mixed ligand complexes of phenyl substituted/condensed Schiff's bases, N,N'-ethylene-bis-(benzoylacetone imine) (Lb) or N,N'-ethylene-bis-(salicylaldehyde imine) (Lc) or N,N'-ethylene-bis-(2-hydroxyacetophenone imine) (Ld) and trimethylphosphine were synthesized to determine the influence of the presence of a phenyl group in these tracers on their heart uptake in rats. A new formulation procedure using aq. beta-hydroxypropylcyclodextrin (HPB) solution was developed for intravenous administration of nonpolar 99mTc complexes. Comparison of biodistribution data for the reference 99mTc complex from N,N'-ethylene-bis-(acetylacetone imine) and trimethylphosphine using HPB formulation and alternate formulation (0.9% saline) showed the same results. Biodistribution of the title 99mTc complexes, [99mTc Lb (PMe3)2]+, [99mTc Lc (PMe3)2]+ and [99mTc Ld (PMe3)2]+ showed heart-to-blood activity ratios of 1.7, 2.1 and 1.7, respectively, at 15 min post-injection in rats.