Patent ID: 8487077

Claim:
An anhydrous process for preparing 18 F labeled compounds comprising a labeling step comprising, in the presence of carbonate ions, reacting an alkyl or aryl 4-trimethylammoniumbenzoate triflate with a dried potassium-Kryptofix-2.2.2 complex salt of [ 18 F]fluoride in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), or cesium carbonate as a source of the activating counter ion for [ 18 F]fluoride, to provide a reaction vial containing a corresponding alkyl or aryl 4-[ 18 F]fluorobenzoate solution, and removing any water in the solution containing the alkyl or aryl 4-[ 18 F]fluorobenzoate, a deprotecting step comprising dissolving the alkyl or aryl 4-[ 18 F]fluorobenzoate in a basic anhydrous and aprotic solvent to provide a reaction mixture containing 4[ 18 F] fluorobenzoid salt, and a coupling step comprising adding a solution of an activating agent to the reaction mixture contained 4-[ 18 F]fluorobenzoate to provide an activated ester.