Synthesis of (E)-2,3´,4,5´-Tetramethoxy[2-¹¹C]stilbene

In this paper, we describe the radiosynthesis of the compound (E)-2,3',4,5'-tetramethoxy[2-C-11]stilbene, a potential, universal tumour positron emission tomography imaging agent. The production of (E)-2,3',4,5'-tetramethoxy[2-C-11]stilbene was carried out via C-11-methylation of (E)-2-(hydroxy)-3',4,5'-trimethoxystilbene by using [C-11]methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate ([C-11]methyl triflate). (E)-2,3',4,5'-tetramethoxy[2-C-11]stilbene was obtained with a radiochemical purity greater than 95% in a 20 +/- 2% decay-corrected radiochemical yield, based upon [C-11]carbon dioxide. Synthesis, purification and formulation were completed on an average of 30 min following the end of bombardment (EOB). The specific radioactivity obtained was 1. 9 +/- 0.6 GBq/mu mol at EOB.