[11C]octopamine synthesis using [11C]cyanide: chemical and enzymatic approaches for the [11C]cyanohydrin synthesis.

[11C]-p- and m-octopamine hydrochloride were synthesized from [11C]HCN in a two-step sequence. Chemical and enzymatic approaches were used for the formation of the [11C]cyanohydrin intermediates as the key step. Isolated radiochemical yields of 0.7-2.3% at the end-of-synthesis were obtained with an overall preparation time of 40-60 min. The enantiomeric purity of the [11C]-p-octopamine obtained through the enzymatic process was 92% e.e. in the (S)-enantiomer, whereas that of the [11C]-m-octopamine was 42% e.e. in the (R)-enantiomer, as determined by HPLC without any derivatization.