<sup>18</sup> F‐Radiopharmaceutical Diversification Enabled by Deaminative Cross‐Electrophile Couplings

I Isabella F. Ogilvy (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK) J Joseph Ford (Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.) S Sebastiano Ortalli (Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.) E Evelien Renders (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium) T Thomas R. Hayes (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson La Jolla California 92121 USA) S Shuanglong Liu (Department of Physics) I Inne Mortiers (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium) A Anastasia Nikolopoulou (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA) A Alexandre M. Sorlin (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA) A Andrés A. Trabanco (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Janssen‐Cilag S.A. Toledo E‐45007 Spain) M Matthew Tredwell (Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, U.K.) P Peter J. J. A. Buijnsters (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium) R Rhys Salter (Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA) V Véronique Gouverneur

Abstract

Abstract The development of 18 F‐labelled radiotracers is of vital importance for (pre)clinical positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and to guide drug discovery campaigns. State‐of‐the‐art approaches often require labour‐intensive preparation of highly functionalised radiolabelling precursors. This bottleneck impedes analogue generation for optimal imaging and exploration of radiochemical space. To this end, we disclose a nickel‐mediated aryl (C) sp 2 ‐(C) sp 3 cross‐coupling with amine‐derived alkyl 2,4,6‐triphenylpyridinium salts as coupling partners amenable to radiosynthesis. The method was applied to primary and secondary 2,4,6‐triphenylpyridinium salts in radiochemical conversion (RCC) up to 86% and a high‐throughput experimentation (HTE) assay proved crucial for expedient ligand evaluation. A late‐stage diversification case study from a sole precursor achieved six 18 F‐labelled GSK‐3 kinase inhibitor analogues, one being prepared in up to gigabecquerel (GBq) quantities in a (semi)automated two‐step protocol applied across three commercial radiosynthesis platforms.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 4
Published January 22, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (14)

I

Isabella F. Ogilvy

Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK

J

Joseph Ford

Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.

S

Sebastiano Ortalli

Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.

E

Evelien Renders

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium

T

Thomas R. Hayes

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson La Jolla California 92121 USA

S

Shuanglong Liu

Department of Physics

I

Inne Mortiers

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium

A

Anastasia Nikolopoulou

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA

A

Alexandre M. Sorlin

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA

A

Andrés A. Trabanco

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Janssen‐Cilag S.A. Toledo E‐45007 Spain

M

Matthew Tredwell

Wales Research and Diagnostic PET Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, U.K.

P

Peter J. J. A. Buijnsters

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Turnhoutseweg 30 Beerse 2340 Belgium

R

Rhys Salter

Global Discovery Chemistry Johnson &amp; Johnson Spring House Pennsylvania 19477 USA

V

Véronique Gouverneur