Synthesis and biodistribution of [11C]fludiazepam for imaging benzodiazepine receptors.

As a tracer for in vivo studies on benzodiazepine receptors, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-[11C]methyl-2H-1,4- benzodiazepin-2-one, [11C]fludiazepam, was synthesized by the methylation of nor-derivative with [11C]CH3I, and purified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Within 60 min [11C]fludiazepam was obtained for injection in high radiochemical yields and in high radiochemical purity with a specific activity of up to 230 mCi/mumol. After i.v. injection of [11C]fludiazepam in rats the radioactivity was rapidly incorporated into many tissues and the blood clearance of the radioactivity was very rapid. The brain uptake was high and decreased gradually. The adrenal uptake was the highest and decreased with high loading doses. The effect of the loading dose on the uptake was also found in the heart and lungs. By autoradiography using [11C]fludiazepam, a higher accumulation was visualized in the cortex and thalamus than in other regions.