Silicon-[18F] Fluorine Radiochemistry: Basics, Applications and Challenges

Silicon-[F-18] fluorine (Si-F-18) radiochemistry has recently emerged alongside other unconventional approaches such as aluminum-F-18 and boron-F-18 based labeling strategies, reshaping the landscape of modern F-18-radiochemistry. All these novel methodologies are driven by the demand for more convenient F-18-labeling procedures to further disseminate one of the most sophisticated imaging technologies, Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The PET methodology requires special radionuclides such as F-18 (one of the most prominent examples) to be introduced into bioactive molecules. Si-F-18 radiochemistry contributed greatly towards the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging. Herein, we describe the radiochemical basics of Si-F-18 bond formation, the application of Si-F-18 tracers for PET imaging, and additionally, the inherent chemical intricacies of this methodology.