Enantioselective synthesis of no-carrier-added (NCA) 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA

The application of a chiral phase-transfer-catalyst (PTC) in the synthesis of N.C.A. 6-[18F]fluoro-image-DOPA has been recently developed. The 6-trimethylammoniumveratraldehyde triflate precursor and PTC (O-allyl-N-(9)-anthracenylcinchonidinium bromide) were synthesized and successful synthesis route was developed for the preparation of 6-[18F]fluoro-image-DOPA with high radiochemical yields (4–9%, decay uncorrected) and short synthesis time (80 min). The radiochemical purity was over 99% and no image-isomer was detected by HPLC analysis using a chiral mobile phase.