Recent Advances in 18F-Labeled Amino Acids Synthesis and Application

Radiolabeled amino acids are an important class of agents for positron emission tomography imaging that target amino acid transporters in many tumor types. Traditional 18F-labeled amino acid synthesis strategies are always based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with multistep radiosynthesis and low radiochemical yields. In recent years, new 18F-labeling methodologies such as metal-catalyzed radiofluorination and heteroatom (B, P, S, Si, etc.)-18F bond formation are being effectively used to synthesize radiopharmaceuticals. This review focuses on recent advances in the synthesis, radiolabeling, and application of a series of 18F-labeled amino acid analogs using new 18F-labeling strategies.