Chinese Chemical Letters  2022, Vol. 33 Issue (7): 3543-3548   PDF    
Synthesis and characterization of the two enantiomers of a chiral sigma-1 receptor radioligand: (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-[18F]FBFP
Tao Wanga, Ying Zhanga, Xiaojun Zhangb, Leyuan Chenc, Mingqiang Zhengd, Jinming Zhangb,*, Peter Bruste,#, Winnie Deuther-Conrade, Yiyun Huangd,*, Hongmei Jiaa,*     
a Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals (Beijing Normal University), Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
b Nuclear Medicine Department, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China;
c Institute of Radiation Medicine, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China;
d Yale PET Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8048, United States;
e Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Department of Neuroradiopharmaceuticals, Leipzig 04318, Germany
Abstract: Racemic [18F]FBFP ([18F]1) proved to be a potent σ1 receptor radiotracer with superior imaging properties. The pure enantiomers of unlabeled compounds (S)- and (R)-1 and the corresponding iodonium ylide precursors were synthesized and characterized. The two enantiomers (S)-1 and (R)-1 exhibited comparable high affinity for σ1 receptors and selectivity over σ2 receptors. The Ca2+ fluorescence assay indicated that (R)-1 behaved as an antagonist and (S)-1 as an agonist for σ1 receptors. The 18F-labeled enantiomers (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 were obtained in > 99% enantiomeric purity from the corresponding enantiopure iodonium ylide precursors with radiochemical yield of 24.4% ± 2.6% and molar activity of 86-214 GBq/µmol. In ICR mice both (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 displayed comparable high brain uptake, brain-to-blood ratio, in vivo stability and binding specificity in the brain and peripheral organs. In micro-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in rats, (S)-[18F]1 exhibited faster clearance from the brain than (R)-[18F]1, indicating different brain kinetics of the two enantiomers. Both (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 warrant further evaluation in primates to translate a single enantiomer with more suitable kinetics for imaging the σ1 receptors in humans.
Keywords: σ1 receptor    Enantiomer    Radiotracer    Positron emission tomography    Fluorine-18    

The sigma-1 (σ1) receptor consists of 223 amino acid residues [1] with molecular weight of 25.3 kDa [2]. It is mainly localized at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, specifically mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM) [3, 4]. Most importantly, this receptor is a unique "ligand-operated receptor chaperone" and interacts with many functional proteins [4]. The crystal structure of human σ1 receptor revealed a trimeric architecture with a single transmembrane domain in each protomer [3]. It can be modulated by drugs and differences between agonist- and antagonist-bound crystal structures of the σ1 receptor have been illustrated recently [5]. Agonists decrease whereas antagonists increase the oligomeric state of σ1 receptor [6-8], suggesting that agonists and antagonists dynamically regulate σ1 receptor oligomerization in distinct manners [9].

The σ1 receptor has been shown to regulate various physiological processes, such as transcriptional activity, Ca2+ homeostasis, ER stress response, and autophagy [10-12] with its role in organizing and remodeling cholesterol-enriched ER signaling microdomains [13]. Growing evidence demonstrated that this chaperone is also involved in a number of disorders including central nervous system (CNS) diseases [14-21], cardiovascular diseases [22] and cancers [23]. In the CNS, the σ1 receptor plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of many neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), frontotemporal lobe degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and major depressive disorder (MDD) [14-21]. Several compounds acting on the σ1 receptor including agonists such as ANAVEX2-73, SA4503 and pridopidine and antagonists S1RA have entered clinical trials as drug candidates, underscoring the importance of σ1 receptor as a therapeutic target [19, 24]. Most recently, the σ1 receptor has been identified as an essential host factor supporting SARS-CoV-2 viral infectivity [25, 26]. The availability of an optimal radioligand for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of σ1 receptor in the brain will enable the elucidation of this receptor chaperone's involvement in neurologic and psychiatric disorders and its changes during disease progression, as well as exploration of therapeutic mechanism to facilitate new drug development.

Currently, there is no σ1 receptor radiotracer approved for use in clinical routine. [11C]SA4503 is the first radioligand used for imaging σ1 receptor changes in the brain of AD [27] and PD [28] patients and σ1 receptor occupancy by fluvoxamine [29] and donepezil [30]. But the short half-life of its 11C-nuclide limits its applications. Among the 18F-labeled radioligands investigated in humans, [18F]FPS [31] and [18F]FTC-146 [32, 33] exhibit irreversible kinetics, which excludes their applications for the imaging and quantification of σ1 receptors in the human brain. Currently, only (S)-[18F]fluspidine [34] has proved to be a promising radioligand and used for imaging σ1 receptor in patients with major depression [35] and σ1 receptor occupancy of pridopidine [36]. Nonetheless, its free fraction in plasma is low (2.3%), making reliable measurement challenging, and further validation is required to test its reproducibility in quantifying the σ1 receptor in humans. Therefore, there is a need for the development of σ1 receptor radiotracer with optimal pharmacokinetic and imaging properties.

We have recently reported the characterization of [18F]FBFP ([18F]1) in non-human primates that demonstrated high plasma fraction, good brain uptake, and the highest specific binding signals in non-human primates among the σ1 receptor radioligands evaluated to date [37, 38]. Similar to [18F]fluspidine, [18F]1 has a chiral center and thus is composed of two enantiomers as shown in Fig. 1. For future clinical translation a single enantiomer is desirable, as the two enantiomers may possess different affinity and hence pharmacokinetic and imaging characteristics, as in the case of (R)- and (S)-[18F]fluspidine [39-41]. Therefore, we synthesized the two enantiomers of FBFP (1) for in vitro binding assays and agonist/antagonistic activity test. The 18F-labeled enantiomers (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 were also synthesized and evaluated via biodistribution in mice and micro-PET imaging studies in rats.

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Fig. 1. Structures of 18F-labeled σ1 receptor enantiomers (S)- and (R)-[18F]1.

The synthetic routes for the two enantiomers (S)−1 and (R)−1 and enantiopure precursors for (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 were illustrated in Scheme 1, Scheme 2. The racemic compound rac-1 and rac-5 were prepared following our previously reported methods [37] with minor modifications, resulting in a shorter synthesis time and higher yield. Separation of rac-1 via chiral preparative HPLC provided the two enantiomers (S)−1 and (R)−1. The detailed chiral HPLC conditions for separation are presented in Table S1 (Supporting information).

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Scheme 1. Synthetic routes for rac-1 and its two enantiomers (S)- and (R)−1. Reagents and conditions: (a) K2CO3, KI, CH3CN, 40 ℃, 2 h, 77%−91%; (b) TsCl, TEA, DMAP, CH2Cl2, 0 ℃ to r.t., overnight, 94%−99%; (c) LiBr, acetone, reflux, 24 h, 56%; (d) TEA, CH3OH, 60 ℃, 3 h, 72%−80%; (e) 10 or 11, K2CO3, NaI, DMF, reflux, 2 h, 76%−91%.

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Scheme 2. Synthesis of the iodonium ylide precursors and radiosynthesis of (S)- and (R)-[18F]1. Reagents and conditions: (a) Ac2O, H3BO3, 30 ℃, 0.5 h, 32%; (b) i) TFA, CHCl3, Oxone, r.t., 1 h; ii) 6, 10-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane-7, 9-dione (14), Na2CO3 (10% aq), EtOH, 35 ℃, 0.5 h, 77%; (c) [18F]F, Kryptofix 2.2.2 (K2.2.2), K2CO3, TPP, DMF, 120 ℃, 10 min.

To obtain the single enantiomer (S)−1 or (R)−1 directly, we used (S)-(+)- or (R)-(−)-tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol ((S)−6) or (R)−6) as starting material, which was converted to p-toluenesulfonate (S)−7 or (R)−7 for nucleophilic substitution with LiBr to give the bromo-intermediate (S)−8 or (R)−8. N-Alkylation of piperazine (9) with 4-halide-benzyl bromide (3 or 4) provided the intermediate 10 or 11. Further N-alkylation with (S)−8 or (R)−8 then afforded (S)−1, (R)−1, (S)−5 or (R)−5, respectively.

The iodonium ylide precursors rac-15, (S)−15 and (R)−15 were synthesized based on our previously reported methods [38] with minor modifications as shown in Scheme 2. Using boric acid (H3BO3) as catalyst [42] instead of concentrated sulfuric acid [43], 6, 10-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane-7, 9-dione (14) was obtained in a simple and efficient method. Similar to the synthesis of the two enantiomers of compound 1, (S)−15 and (R)−15 were obtained by separation of rac-15 via chiral preparative HPLC (Table S2 and Fig. S2 in Supporting information), or via chiral synthesis from (S)−5 or (R)−5.

The final products were analyzed by chiral HPLC and determined to have more than 98% enantiomeric excess (ee) for (S)−1, (R)−1, (S)−15 and (R)−15, as shown in Figs. S1 and S2 (Supporting information).

The optical rotations of the enantiomers (S)−1 and (R)−1 and radiolabeling precursors (S)−15 and (R)−15 was determined by a polarimeter and shown in Table 1. The specific rotations ([α]D20) were +6.95 and −7.15, respectively, for (S)−1 and (R)−1, prepared by chiral synthesis. Values for the samples (+)−1 and (−)−1, obtained by chiral HPLC separation, were similar (+7.03 and −7.12, respectively). The [α]D20 values for (S)−15 and (R)−15 (+2.34 and −2.15, respectively) from chiral synthesis were also similar to those of (+)−15 and (−)−15 (+2.30 and −2.10, respectively), obtained by chiral HPLC separation.

Table 1
Specific rotation and absoluteconfiguration of the enantiomers.a

The structure of the human σ1 receptor has been reported [3]. Molecular docking studies were conducted to investigate and predict the possible molecular interaction mode of the enantiomers (S)- and (R)−1 with the human σ1 receptor. The method for docking models was referenced and revised from previous σ1 receptor ligand recognition studies [3, 5, 44].

It is well known that the electrostatic and steric-hindrance interaction between the basic nitrogen atom on the ligand scaffold and Glu-172 or Asp-126 are significantly important. Both enantiomers (S)- and (R)−1 were determined to be suitable for the binding pocket of σ1 receptor occupied with a similar pose (Figs. 2A and C). As depicted in Figs. 2B and D, both enantiomers featured hydrogen-bond interactions between the two nitrogen atoms of the piperazine ring with Glu-172 and Asp-126. However, the distances between the nitrogen atoms and the two amino acid residues above are different. The distances between the nitrogen atom of the piperazine adjacent to the 4-fluorobenzyl group and Glu-172 are 2.8 Å and 3.5 Å for (S)−1 and (R)−1, respectively. The distances between the nitrogen atom adjacent to the tetrahydrofurfuryl group and Asp-126 are 3.4 Å and 2.7 Å for (S)−1 and (R)−1, respectively. Such notable differences for the two enantiomers could affect their pharmacokinetics and dynamics in vivo. The values of the receptor-ligand scoring function were approximately −10.00 and −9.88 kcal/mol for the enantiomers (S)−1 and (R)−1, respectively. The two-dimensional diagram of receptor-ligand binding is presented in Fig. S3 (Supporting information).

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Fig. 2. The docked poses of the enantiomers (S)−1 and (R)−1 into σ1 receptor. (A) and (B) Pose of co-crystallized (S)−1 and top-ranked docking (Carbon: pink; Nitrogen: blue; Oxygen: red; Fluorine: pale cyan). (C) and (D) Best docked pose for (R)−1 (Carbon: orange; Nitrogen: blue; Oxygen: red; Fluorine: pale cyan). Hydrogenbonds are indicated by yellow dashed lines. In all panels, the σ1 receptor is shown in green.

Competition binding assays were performed as previously reported [45], using rat brain homogenates with (+)-[3H]pentazocine as radioligand for the σ1 receptors and rat liver membranes with [3H]DTG (in the presence of 10 µmol/L dextrallorphan to block σ1 receptors) as radioligand for the σ2 receptors, respectively. The results are shown in Table 2. The Ki(σ1) values were 3.22 ± 0.87, 3.16 ± 1.07 and 3.23 ± 0.62 nmol/L, respectively, for rac-1, (S)-(+)−1 and (R)-(−)−1. The Ki(σ2) values were 168 ± 56.0, 126 ± 5.13 and 178 ± 32.8 nmol/L, respectively, for rac-1, (S)-(+)−1 and (R)-(−)−1. The Ki(σ2)/Ki(σ1) ratios were 52, 40 and 55, respectively, for rac-1, (S)-(+)−1 and (R)-(−)−1. These data indicated that both enantiomers possessed comparable low nanomolar affinity for σ1 receptors and high subtype selectivity.

Table 2
Bindingaffinities of rac-, (S)- and (R)−1 for σ1 and σ2 receptors.a

Agonists and antagonists of the σ1 receptor have been shown to bind with different oligomeric states, and hold different therapeutic potential in clinical trials [5, 46]. Agonists stabilize σ1 receptor monomers and dimers that are the active forms of the chaperone protein, whereas antagonists bind to higher oligomer complexes [6, 7]. Based on the report that σ1 agonists can inhibit potassium chloride (KCl)-induced Ca2+ influx into synaptosomes, an assay to determine the agonistic/antagonistic effects of σ1 ligands has been established using opipramol, a σ1 agonist which can reduce KCl-induced Ca2+ influx, by fluorescence measurements with fura-2 or fura-4-AM [47-49]. Given the inhibition of Ca2+ influx by agonists, we use fura-4-AM imaging to measure calcium response and test agonist/antagonist activity for (S)- and (R)−1. The results are shown in Fig. 3. Compared to control, the σ1 receptor agonist opipramol and SA4503 inhibited Ca2+ influx by 43% and 54% (P < 0.001), respectively. Similar to opipramol and SA4503, (S)−1 was able to reduce the KCl-induced Ca2+ influx by 48% (P < 0.001), indicating (S)−1 as σ1 receptor agonist. However, the σ1 receptor antagonist haloperidol had no inhibition effect on ion reflux (P = 0.204). (R)−1 further increased the KCl-induced Ca2+ influx by 63% (P < 0.001).

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Fig. 3. Effect of ligands (S)−1, (R)−1 and σ1 receptoragonist opipramol, SA4503 and antagonist haloperidol on KCl-induced Ca2+ influx. For the control group, the PC12 cells were incubated with 0.5% DMSO (solvent used to dissolve the compounds for this test) for 10 min, and then stimulated with KCl (80 mmol/L) for 10 min.

In the second experiment, synaptosomes were preincubated with the test compound (R)−1, (S)−1 and SA4503 for 5 min. Then, opipramol was added and after 5 min, the cells were stimulated with KCl. The effect of ligands (S)−1, (R)−1 and σ1 receptor agonist SA4503 on opipramol-induced inhibition of Ca2+ influx is shown in Fig. S4 and Table S3 (Supporting information). Preincubation with the σ1 receptor agonist SA4503 strengthened opipramol inhibition of Ca2+ influx (31% increase compared to opipramol alone, P = 0.002). Preincubation of (S)−1 had no significant effect on opipramol inhibition of Ca2+ influx (21% decrease, P = 0.295). It is notable that preincubation with (R)−1 reversed the effect of opipramol on Ca2+ influx significantly (218% compared to opipramol group, P < 0.001), indicating (R)−1 as a σ1 receptor antagonist. Both experiments together demonstrate the σ1 antagonistic effect of (R)−1 and the σ1 agonistic effect of (S)−1. Different σ1 agonist/antagonist activity for (S)- and (R)−1 warrant further investigation for their therapeutic applications.

One-step radiosynthesis of racemic and two enantiomers of [18F]1 were explored based on the previously reported method [38] with different conditions as shown in Scheme 2. Chiral HPLC analysis indicated no racemization during the radiosynthesis. The two enantiomers (S)- or (R)-[18F]1 were obtained in more than 98% enantiomeric excess (ee) from the corresponding enantiopure iodonium ylide precursors ((S)-(+)−15 and (R)-(−)−15), as shown in Fig. S5 (Supporting information). Moreover, with triphenylphosphine (PPh3, TPP) as a ligand/catalyst, the radiochemical yields (RCY) were significantly improved (decay-corrected RCY of 24.4% ± 2.6%, n = 6, vs. 10% as previously reported [38]) with lower reaction temperature (120 ℃ vs. 150 ℃) and shorter reaction time (10 min vs. 25 min). Rac-, (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 were obtained with > 99% radiochemical purity (RCP) and molar activity of 86-214 GBq/µmol.

To identify the radiotracers, the corresponding unlabeled compounds were co-injected and co-eluted. The HPLC profiles of (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 are presented in Fig. 4. The retention times of (R)−1 and (R)-[18F]1 were 9.92 and 10.02 min, respectively. The retention times of (S)−1 and (S)-[18F]1 were 9.63 and 9.73 min, respectively. The difference in retention times was in accordance with the time lag as a result of the volume and flow rate within the distance between the UV and radioactivity detectors of our HPLC system.

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Fig. 4. HPLC profiles from co-injection of (R)−1 (tR = 9.92 min) with (R)-[18F]1 (tR = 10.02 min), and (S)−1 (tR = 9.63 min) with (S)-[18F]1 (tR = 9.73 min). HPLC analyses were performed on the Shimadzu SCL-20 AVP system. Conditions: Agela Venusil MP C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), 50% acetonitrile and 50% water containing 0.05% triethylamine (TEA) at 1 mL/min.

Biodistribution studies with (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 (185-296 kBq, 0.1 mL, 7% ethanol in saline) were performed in male ICR mice to test if there are differences in kinetics. The results are illustrated in Tables S4 and S5 (Supporting information). Similar to rac-[18F]1, both (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 exhibited high initial uptake in the brain (> 10% ID/g at 2 min) and low levels of blood accumulation after 30 min. Thus, both enantiomers possessed high brain-to-blood ratios of around 20 from 15 min to 60 min. Radioactivity accumulation in the bone was low at 60 min (< 5% ID/g) and remained constant with time, indicating no defluorination of (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 in vivo.

To determine the binding specificity of (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 in vivo, blocking studies with the σ1 selective agonist SA4503 and self-inhibition by (S)- or (R)−1 were conducted. SA4503 (0.1 mL, 5 µmol/kg) and unlabeled (S)- or (R)−1 (0.1 mL, 5 µmol/kg) were injected 5 min prior to radiotracer injection. The results are summarized in Fig. 5. Similar to rac-[18F]1, pretreatment with SA4503 led to a significant reduction in brain uptake of both (S)-[18F]1 (83%, P < 0.001) and (R)-[18F]1 (78%, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, radioactivity accumulation in the blood were significantly increased by 195% and 231%, respectively, leading to decreased brain-to-blood ratios (94% reduction for both enantiomers, P < 0.001). Moreover, pretreatment with SA4503 also resulted in significant reduction of radiotracer uptake in peripheral organs known to contain σ1 receptors, including the heart (69% and 67% reduction for (S)- and (R)-[18F]1, P < 0.001), spleen (71% and 62%, P < 0.001), lung (83% and 76%, P < 0.001), pancreas (47% and 50%, P < 0.001) and muscle (57% and 38%, P < 0.001). For self-blocking studies, pretreatment with unlabeled (S)−1 or (R)−1 at the same dose of SA4503 led to significant reduction in brain uptake (88% and 82%, P < 0.001), and brain-to-blood ratios (96% and 95%, P < 0.001), as well as significant reduction of uptake in peripheral organs including the heart (72% and 70%, P < 0.001), spleen (76% and 60%, P < 0.001), lung (86% and 74%, P < 0.001), pancreas (31% and 39%, P < 0.001) and muscle (62% and 49%, P < 0.001). These results demonstrate high levels of specific binding for both (S)-[18F]1 and (R)-[18F]1 to σ1 receptors in vivo.

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Fig. 5. Effects of pretreatment with (S)−1 (0.1 mL, 5 µmol/kg), (R)−1 (0.1 mL, 5 µmol/kg) and SA4503 (0.1 mL, 5 µmol/kg) on organ biodistribution of (S)-[18F]1 (A) and (R)-[18F]1 (B) at 30 min after intravenous injection. Values are means ± SD, n = 8.

The metabolic stability of (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 was investigated in vivo in male ICR mice at 30 min post-injection of the radiotracers (74-92.5 MBq, 0.1 mL, 7% ethanol in saline). Representative HPLC chromatograms of the acetonitrile extracts obtained from plasma and brain samples are presented in Fig. 6. In the brain samples, > 95% of the radioactivity signal represented the intact parent radiotracer for both (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 (n = 3). Only small amount of a hydrophilic radioactive metabolite was observed with retention times of 2.63 and 2.84 min for (S)- or (R)-[18F]1 (Figs. 6B and E), respectively. In plasma samples, only one major hydrophobic radio-metabolite with tR of 2.61 and 2.88 min, respectively, were detected after injection of (S)- or (R)-[18F]1 (Figs. 6C and F).

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Fig. 6. Analytical radio-HPLC chromatograms of the mouse plasma and brain extracts at 30 min after administration of (S)- [18F]1 (A: (S)-[18F]1; B: brain extracts; C: plasma extracts) and (R)-[18F]1 (D: (R)-[18F]1; E: brain extracts; F: plasma extracts).

To further investigate the kinetics and confirm the specific binding of two enantiomers, micro-PET/CT studies were conducted in anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In vivo binding specificity was evaluated via co-injection of SA4503 (5 µmol/kg) with the radiotracers (7.40-9.25 MBq, 0.5 mL, 7% ethanol in saline). Dynamic brain PET scanning was started immediately after injection of the radiotracers and lasted for 90 min. The time−activity curves (TACs) of rac-, (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 in the whole brain from baseline (n = 6, 7, 3, respectively) and SA4503 blocking scans (n = 4, 3, 3, respectively) are presented in Fig. 7. Similar to rac-[18F]1, (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 entered the brain rapidly and reached peak concentrations within 2 min and washed out steadily over time. However, (S)-[18F]1 exhibited much faster clearance than (R)-[18F]1 from the rat brain. The different kinetics of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(−)-[18F]1 in the brain of mice and rats may be related to species difference. Pretreatment with SA4503 resulted in significant reduction of radiotracer uptake, confirming high specific binding of both enantiomers to σ1 receptors in the rat brain.

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Fig. 7. Time‒activity curves of rac-, (S)- and (R)-[18F]1 in the whole brain from baseline (n = 3-7) and SA4503 blocking scans (n = 3) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

In conclusion, we have developed efficient procedures for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ligands (S)−1 and (R)−1 and the corresponding iodonium ylide precursors. Computational docking studies indicated both enantiomers as suitable ligands for the σ1 receptors. Moreover, the molecular interactions between (S)−1 and the σ1 receptor was found to be different from that between (R)−1 and the σ1 receptor. It is also interesting that (R)−1 behaved as an antagonist while (S)−1 as an agonist. The enantiomerically pure radioligands (S)-(+)- and (R)-(−)-[18F]1 were obtained from their corresponding iodonium ylide precursors with improved radiochemical yields using triphenylphosphine as a ligand/catalyst. Evaluation in rodents demonstrated excellent properties of both (S)-(+)-[18F]1 and (R)-(−)-[18F]1 with high brain uptake, high brain-to-blood ratios, high metabolic stability in the brain and high specific binding to the σ1 receptors. In dynamic micro-PET studies, (S)-(+)-[18F]1 exhibited much faster clearance from the rat brain compared to (R)-(+)-[18F]1, demonstrating different pharmacokinetics of two enantiomerically pure radioligands. Taken together, (S)-(+)-[18F]1 and (R)-(−)-[18F]1 warrant further evaluation in primates to develop an optimal enantiomerically pure radioligand for imaging of σ1 receptors in humans.

Ethics statement

All procedures related to the animal experiments were performed in compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines. All the animal experiments of the ICR mice and rats were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Beijing Normal University.

Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No. 7212203) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21876013).

Supplementary materials

Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2022.03.099.

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