Synthesis of meta-substituted [18F]3-fluoro-4-aminopyridine via direct radiofluorination of pyridine N-oxides

Abstract

Due to their electron-rich aromatic structure, nucleophilic (radio)fluorination of pyridines is challenging, especially at the meta position. In this paper, we describe the first example of direct fluorination of a pyridine N-oxide to produce a meta fluorinated pyridine. Specifically, fluorination of 3-bromo-4-nitropyridine N-oxide produced in several minutes 3-fluoro-4-nitropyridine N-oxide in moderate yield at room temperature. This intermediate compound was later converted to 3-fluoro-4-aminopyridine easily by catalytic hydrogenation. Furthermore, this approach was successfully applied for labeling with fluorine-18. The use of pyridine N-oxides for the preparation of fluoropyridines is unprecedented in the chemical literature and has the potential to offer a new way for the synthesis of these important structures in pharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals.