Radiofluorination of a NHC-PF5 adduct: toward new probes for 18F PET imaging.

The radiofluorination of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) phosphorus(v) fluoride adducts has been investigated. The results show that the IMe-PF5 derivative (IMe = 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) undergoes a Lewis acid promoted 18F-19F isotopic exchange. The resulting radiofluorinated probe is remarkably resistant to hydrolysis both in vitro as well as in vivo.