title: A Practical One-Pot Synthesis of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracers via Nickel-Mediated Radiofluorination.
abstract: Invited for this months cover picture is the group of Professor Bernd Neumaier at the Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging at the University Clinic of Cologne. The cover picture shows the differences in brain metabolism of a healthy young and a healthy old subject, as well as a patient suffering from Parkinsons disease (left to right) uncovered by 6-[(18)F]FDOPA-positron emission tomography (PET). Morbus Parkinson occurs when nerve cells that produce dopamine begin to die. The shortage of dopamine leads to movement problems in affected individuals. 6-[(18)F]FDOPA is extensively used to evaluate the progression of Parkinsons disease. Bold stick projections of this PET tracer, as well as a neuronal network, are seen in the background. Unfortunately, conventional procedures to produce 6-[(18)F]FDOPA are cumbersome. Thus, several recent developments aim at the simplification of this radiosynthesis. In our work, we studied the applicability of the recently reported Ni-mediated radiofluorination approach for daily routine production of 6-[(18)F]FDOPA. For more details, see the Full Paper on p. 457 ff.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Zlatopolskiy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zischler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany ; Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elizaveta A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Urusova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Endepols
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kordys
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Georg-August University Tammannstr. 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Holm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frauendorf
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany ; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center PO Box 616, 6200, MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Felix M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mottaghy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiochemistry & Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic Cologne Kerpener Str. 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany ; Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Gleueler Str. 50, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neumaier