The relative efficacy of aromatic fluorine-for-halogen (F-X) exchange
reactions was found to be F-F > F-Cl > F-Br > F-I in a [F-18]fluoride-
cryptand-oxalate system using 4'-haloacetophenones (F, Cl, Br and I),
key intermediates for many F-18-radiopharmaceuticals. Efficient F-18-l
abelling reaction and a new chromatographic separation method has enab
led the potential of F-for-X exchange (X=Cl and F) to be realized for
the high yield synthesis of high purity [F-18]-neuroleptics.