Novel probes for imaging amyloid‐β: F‐18 and C‐11 labeling of 2‐(4‐aminostyryl)benzoxazole derivatives

2-(4-Methylaminostyryl)-6-(2-[18F]fluoroethoxy)benzoxazole ([18F]BF-168) was prepared and found to be a potential probe for imaging amyloid-β. The precursor, a 6-(2-tosyloxyethoxy)benzoxazole derivative, was fluorinated with [18F]KF and Kryptofix 222 in acetonitrile, and the crude product purified by semi-preparative HPLC to give [18F]BF-168. The radiochemical purity was >95% and the maximum specific activity was 106 TBq/mmol at the end of synthesis. The synthesis time was 110 min from the end of bombardment. 2-(4-[N-methyl-11C]methylaminostyryl)-5-fluorobenzoxazole ([11C]BF-145) was also prepared from 2-(4-aminostyryl)-5-fluorobenzoxazole, [11C]MeI and 5 N NaOH in DMSO, and purified by semi-preparative HPLC. The radiochemical purity was >95% and the specific activity was 40–70 TBq/mmol at the end of synthesis. The synthesis time was 45 min from the end of bombardment. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.