11C-Labelled polymer-bound wittig reagents in the synthesis of 11C-labelled aromatic alkenes

The synthesis of the polymer-supported (polystyrene) 11C-labelled precursors [11C]methyltriphenyl-phosphonium iodide and [11C]cyanoalkyltriphenylphosphonium halides is presented. The polymer-supported precursors were used in Wittig reactions for the synthesis of 11C-labelled terminal and branched alkenes. 11C-labelled alkenes were formed in 2–98% decay corrected radiochemical yield, counted from [11C]methyl iodide or hydrogen [11C]cyanide, respectively, in 9–13 min. In the case of the branched alkenes, exclusive formation of the Z-isomer was observed.