Syntheses and binding affinities of 6-nitroquipazine analogues for serotonin transporter: Part 3. A potential 5-HT transporter imaging agent, 3-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-6-nitroquipazine.

3-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl)-6-nitroquipazine ([18F]FPNQ) as a 5-HT transporter imaging agents was designed, synthesized, and evaluated. FPNQ was selected due to its potent in vitro biological activity (K(i)=0.32 nM) in rat brain cortical membranes. The 18F-labeled FPNQ was prepared by reaction of the propyl mesylate as a precursor with tetra-n-butylammonium [18F]fluoride generated under NCA conditions. The precursor mesylate was synthesized from commercially available hydrocarbostyril in nine steps in 21% overall yield. The specific activity of the [18F]FPNQ determined by radioreceptor assay was 27.0 GBq/micromol. Tissue distribution studies in mice showed the highest uptake in the frontal cortex (5.79 %ID/g) at 60 min post-injection.