Facile synthesis of N-trifluoroacetyl-3,4-dimethoxy-6-trimethyl-stannylphenethylamine: A convenient precursor to 6-[18F]Fluorodopamine

A convenient three-step synthesis of the title compound from commercially available 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine is described. The title compound is a stable, crystalline, organic-soluble solid which reacts with carrier-added [18F]acetyl hypofluorite to yield 6-[18F]fluorodopamine (20 ± 7% radiochemical yield EOS, n = 3) following deprotection with hydriodic acid.