The synthesis of [18F]Xenon difluoride from [18F]fluoride gas

A convenient procedure for the rapid synthesis of 18F labelled XeF2 was developed. Neon gas with 0.087 to 5% carrier fluorine was irradiated with 15 MeV deuterons to produce [18F]F2 with a yield of 17 mCi/μAh, EOB. It was, in turn, reacted with excess of xenon in a high pressure nickel vessel at 390°C for 40 min. The isolated reaction product was XeF2 exclusively. The production yield was 11 mCi/μAh at EOB and the specific activity was 450mCi/mmol. [18F]XeF2 has been shown to be a versatile intermediate for the syntheses of 18F-labelled radiopharmaceuticals, for example, [18F]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and L-[18F]6-fluorodopa.