Recent Developments in Electrochemical Radiofluorination: Methods and Applications

Electrochemical fluorination (ECF) has been used for decades to drive organic chemical reactions including non-radioactive fluorination of small molecules. Recent developments in selective electrochemical radiofluorination have demonstrated the potential of using electrochemical platforms as a rapid and resource efficient method for late-stage synthesis of 18F-radiotracers. Electrochemical radiofluorination exhibits a higher tolerance for water as compared with conventional nucleophilic radiofluorination. Using a controlled oxidation potential, it is possible to selectively activate reaction sites that otherwise may not be chemically accessible and generate radiofluorinated products. Electrochemistry also offers a viable approach for the solvent-exchange drying method, facilitating the production of dried [18F]F− with enhanced reactivity, obviating the need for azeotropic evaporation. In this chapter, we review the latest advances in electrochemical radiofluorination, including electrochemical cell designs and various approaches to performing carrier-added (CA) and no-carrier-added (NCA) radiofluorination.