Recent Advances in F-18-Labeled Amino Acids Synthesis and Application

Radiolabeled amino acids are an important class of agents for positron emission tomography imaging that target amino acid transporters in many tumor types. Traditional F-18-labeled amino acid synthesis strategies are always based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with multistep radiosynthesis and low radiochemical yields. In recent years, new F-18-labeling methodologies such as metal-catalyzed radiofluorination and heteroatom (B, P, S, Si, etc.)-F-18 bond formation are being effectively used to synthesize radiopharmaceuticals. This review focuses on recent advances in the synthesis, radiolabeling, and application of a series of F-18-labeled amino acid analogs using new F-18-labeling strategies.