Synthesis, (18)F-labeling, and biological evaluation of piperidyl and pyrrolidyl benzilates as in vivo ligands for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

A series of 31 compounds based on the piperidyl or pyrrolidyl benzilate scaffold were prepared from methyl benzilate and 4-piperidinol, (R)-(+)-3-piperidinol, or (R)-(+)-3-pyrrolidinol. Amine substituents included alkyl and aralkyl groups. In vitro K(i) values ranged from 0.05 nM to >100 nM. (R)-N-(2-Fluoroethyl)-3-piperidyl benzilate (3-FEPB, 22, K(i) = 12.1 nM) and N-(2-fluoroethyl)-4-piperidyl benzilate (4-FEPB, 8, K(i) = 1. 83 nM) were selected for radiolabeling with fluorine-18. Using alkylation with 2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl triflate, 3-[(18)F]FEPB (42) and 4-[(18)F]FEPB (43) were produced in 7-9% radiochemical yield and >97% radiochemical purity. For in vivo studies, retention was moderate in mouse brain for 42; however, blocking with scopolamine showed that uptake was not muscarinic cholinergic receptor-mediated. Conversely, 43 exhibited high, receptor-mediated retention in mouse brain, with significant clearance after 1 h. These results suggest that 43 could have applications as an in vivo probe for measuring endogenous acetylcholine levels.