[18F]CuCF3: A [18F]Trifluoromethylating Agent for Arylboronic Acids and Aryl Iodides

Positron emission tomography has emerged as the leading method for medical imaging with fluorine-18 as the most widely used radioactive isotope. Here we report a semi-automated method for the preparation of valuable [F-18]trifluoromethylcopper, as well as its use for the radiosynthesis of [F-18]trifluoromethylarenes and heteroarenes. Mild conditions of [F-18]trifluoromethylation make this method particularly useful for the radiosynthesis of pharmacologically relevant [F-18]trifluoromethylarenes and heteroarenes.