SOLID PHASE-SUPPORTED REACTION OF NCA (HCN)-C-11 WITH ARABINOSE - A SIMPLIFIED AUTOMATED SYNTHESIS OF D-[1-C-11]GLUCOSE

A simplified, automated synthesis for D-[1-C-11]glucose is described b y the solid phase-supported reaction of (NH4CN)-C-11 with D-arabinose on an Alumina N Sep-Pak(TM). C-11-cyanide reacted instantaneously to p roduce [1-C-11]aldonitriles. Reduction with Raney nickel in formic aci d and semipreparative HPLC afforded D-[1-C-11]glucose with radiochemic al purity >95%. Compared with previously reported procedures a pH adju stment and rotary evaporation step is avoided resulting in a shortenin g of the synthesis time from 55 to 38 min. The radiochemical yield was 5 - 15% (2.5 - 8.5% non-corrected) based on (NH4CN)-C-11. For a typic al production starting with 20 GBq of (NH4CN)-C-11 up to 500 MBq D-[1- C-11]glucose was obtained at end of synthesis as a sterile, formulated solution.