Copper-mediated radioiodination reaction through aryl boronic acid or ester precursor and its application to direct radiolabeling of a cyclic peptide

Mechanistic Insights into the Effect of Sodium Iodide on Copper-Mediated Iododeboronation

The copper-catalyzed Chan-Evans-Lam (CEL) coupling reaction advances carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling and has facilitated the development of radiohalogenation methodologies in radiochemistry. This study investigated the mechanisms and side reactions of CEL iodination under conditions relevant to radiosynthesis and typical organic synthesis, focusing on the effects of sodium iodide. The concentrations of copper and iodide, as well as the copper-to-iodide ratio, were identified as significant factors for successful copper-mediated CEL iodination, influencing the reaction mechanisms and side reactions. Excess iodide relative to the copper salt led to the formation of poorly soluble iodinated copper(I) complexes that competed with that of the desired aryl iodide. Additionally, the predominant copper complex involved in the catalytic cycle differed between the early and late stages of the reaction, depending on the copper-to-iodide ratio. The results of this study indicate that the specialized radiosynthesis conditions meet the requirements for efficient CEL iodination. In particular, an extremely low concentration of iodide is optimal for CEL iodination. These in-depth mechanistic insights not only provide a detailed comparison of CEL iodination across radiochemistry and synthetic organic chemistry but can also inspire the development of novel (radio)iodination methods.

Synthesis Principle and Practice with Radioactive Iodines and Astatine: Advances Made So Far

Radioactive iodines and astatine, possessing distinct exploitable nuclear properties, play indispensable roles in the realms of nuclear imaging and therapy. Their analogous chemical characteristics shape the design, preparation, and substrate range for tracers labeled with these radiohalogens through interconnected radiosynthetic chemistry. This perspective systematically explores the labeling methods by types of halogenating reagents─nucleophilic and electrophilic─underpinning the rational design of such compounds. It delves into the rapidly evolving synthetic strategies and reactions in radioiodination and radioastatination over the past decade, comparing their intrinsic relationships and highlighting variations. This comparative analysis illuminates potential radiosynthetic methods for exploration. Moreover, stability concerns related to compounds labeled with radioactive iodines and astatine are addressed, offering valuable insights for radiochemists and physicians alike.

One-pot two-step radioiodination based on copper-mediated iododeboronation and azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction

This methodology demonstrates the ability to sequentially regulate copper-mediated radioiododeboronation and an azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction, which facilitates the continuous incorporation of reagents into the reaction system and mediates the integration of the purification steps into the final process. Additionally, this reaction is suited to be conducted under mild conditions and yields target compounds through potent radiochemical conversions.

A practical protocol for large-scale copper-mediated radioiodination of organoboronic precursors: Radiosynthesis of [123 I]KX-1 for Auger radiotherapy

Nucleophilic copper-mediated radioiodination (CMRI) of organoboronic precursors with radioiodides is a promising method of radioiodination. The previously reported CMRI has demonstrated its great potential and scope of labeling for the radiosynthesis of radioiodine-labeled compounds. However, the reported protocols (using a small amount/volume of radioactivity) are practically not reproducible in large-scale CMRI, in which the radioactivity was usually provided in a bulk alkaline solution. A large amount of water and a strong base are incompatible with CMRI. To overcome these issues in large-scale CMRI, we have developed a simple protocol for large-scale CMRI. The bulk water was removed under a flow of inert gas at 110°C, and the strong base (i.e., NaOH) was neutralized with an acid, pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate or p-toluenesulfonic acid. In the model reactions of [123 I]KX-1, a PARP-1 radioligand for Auger radiotherapy, radiochemical conversions were significantly improved after neutralization of the base, and the addition of additional acids was tolerated and favorable for the reactions. Using this protocol, [123 I]KX-1 was radiosynthesized from 20 mCi (0.74 GBq) of [123 I]iodide in high radiochemical yields, high radiochemical purity, and high molar activity. This protocol should be applicable to the radiosynthesis of other compounds with radioiodine via CMRI.

Effect of Water on Direct Radioiodination of Small Molecules/Peptides Using Copper-Mediated Iododeboronation in Water-Alcohol Solvent

Direct radioiodination of peptides using copper-mediated iododeboronation is a promising radiosynthetic method for solving issues of classical direct radiolabeling, such as toxicity of the organotin precursor (iododestannylation) or formation of radio byproducts (by electrophilic iodination of a tyrosine residue). However, the parameters for optimizing the reaction conditions for various peptides are not completely understood. In particular, considering peptide solubility, the effects of water-containing solvents on labeling efficiency should be thoroughly investigated. Herein, we describe the effect of water on copper-mediated radioiododeboronation and the key factors for ensuring the successful radiolabeling of small molecules and peptides in water-organic solvents. ¹²⁵I-labeled substrates containing peptides ([¹²⁵I]m/p-IBTA) were obtained with high radiochemical conversions (RCCs: >95%) using an alcohol solvent, and a decrease in these RCCs was observed with increasing water content in the methanol solvent. Additionally, when using water-methanol solvents, a difference in RCC due to the substituent effect was also observed. However, the RCCs can be improved without the use of other additives by adjusting the copper catalyst and time of the labeling reaction or by utilizing substituent effects. This study contributes to the improvement of the design of boronic peptide precursors and radiolabeling protocols using copper-mediated iododeboronation.

Merging the Versatile Functionalities of Boronic Acid with Peptides

Peptides inherently feature the favorable properties of being easily synthesized, water-soluble, biocompatible, and typically non-toxic. Thus, boronic acid has been widely integrated with peptides with the goal of discovering peptide ligands with novel biological activities, and this effort has led to broad applications. Taking the integration between boronic acid and peptide as a starting point, we provide an overview of the latest research advances and highlight the versatile and robust functionalities of boronic acid. In this review, we summarize the diverse applications of peptide boronic acids in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, including the identification of covalent reversible enzyme inhibitors, recognition, and detection of glycans on proteins or cancer cell surface, delivery of siRNAs, development of pH responsive devices, and recognition of RNA or bacterial surfaces. Additionally, we discuss boronic acid-mediated peptide cyclization and peptide modifications, as well as the facile chemical synthesis of peptide boronic acids, which paved the way for developing a growing number of peptide boronic acids.