Direct radiofluorination of dopamine: 18F-labeled 6-fluorodopamine for imaging cardiac sympathetic innervation in humans using positron emission tomography

Fluorine-18 labeled fluorodopamine (FDA) was synthesized by the direct fluorination with [18F]F2 [produced by the nuclear reaction 18O(p,n)18F] of dopamine in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride containing boron trifluoride at -65 degrees C. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to separate [18F]6-FDA from the reaction mixture containing 18F-labeled 2- and 5-FDA. The radiochemical yield of [18F]6-FDA, with respect to …