Synthesis and characterization of the two enantiomers of a chiral sigma-1 receptor radioligand:(S)-(+)-and(R)-(-)-[^(18)F]FBFP

Racemic[^(18)F]FBFP([^(18)F]1)proved to be a potentσ_(1) receptor radiotracer with superior imaging properties.The pure enantiomers of unlabeled compounds(S)-and(R)-1 and the corresponding iodonium ylide precursors were synthesized and characterized.The two enantiomers(S)-1 and(R)-1 exhibited comparable high affinity forσ_(1) receptors and selectivity overσ_(2) receptors.The Ca^(2+) fluorescence assay indicated that(R)-1 behaved as an antagonist and(S)-1 as an agonist forσ_(1) receptors.The ^(18)F-labeled enantiomers(S)-and(R)-[^(18)F]1 were obtained in>99%enantiomeric purity from the corresponding enantiopure iodonium ylide precursors with radiochemical yield of 24.4%±2.6%and molar activity of 86–214 GBq/μmol.In ICR mice both(S)-and(R)-[^(18)F]1displayed comparable high brain uptake,brain-to-blood ratio,in vivo stability and binding specificity in the brain and peripheral organs.In micro-positron emission tomography(PET)imaging studies in rats,(S)-[^(18)F]1 exhibited faster clearance from the brain than(R)-[^(18)F]1,indicating different brain kinetics of the two enantiomers.Both(S)-and(R)-[^(18)F]1 warrant further evaluation in primates to translate a single enantiomer with more suitable kinetics for imaging theσ_(1) receptors in humans.