Synthesis of 11C-labeled desipramine and its metabolite 2-hydroxydesipramine: potential radiotracers for PET studies of the norepinephrine transporter.
The antidepressant desipramine (DMI) and its principal metabolite 2-hydroxydesipramine (HDMI) have been radiolabeled with 11C for PET studies. The normethyl precursors of DMI and HDMI were synthesized from iminodibenzyl in 35% and 11% overall yield, respectively. Direct methylation of the normethyl precursor with [11C]CH3I, followed by HPLC purification, provided [11C]DMI and [11C]HDMI in 18-30% and 15-23% decay-corrected radiochemical yields, respectively, in a 45 min synthesis time from end of bombardment. The specific activities of the two radiotracers were >1459 Ci/mmol at the end of synthesis. [11C]DMI and [11C]HDMI have potential utility as PET radiotracers for the norepinephrine transporter.
Van Dort
M E
ME
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0552, USA.
Kim
J H
JH
Tluczek
L
L
Wieland
D M
DM
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D003891:Desipramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D027981:Symporters; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D027981:Symporters; D003891:Desipramine; C028653:2-hydroxydesipramine