Straightforward synthesis of radioiodinated Cc-substituted o-carboranes: towards a versatile platform to enable the in vivo assessment of BNCT drug candidates.

Due to their high boron content and rich chemistry, dicarba-closo-dodecaboranes (carboranes) are promising building blocks for the development of drug candidates with application in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. However, the non-invasive determination of their pharmacokinetic properties to predict therapeutic efficacy is still a challenge. Herein, we have reported the unprecedented preparation of mono-[(125)I] iodinated decaborane via a catalyst-assisted isotopic exchange. Subsequent reactions of the radiolabelled species with acetylenes in acetonitrile under microwave heating yield the corresponding (125)I-labelled, Cc-substituted o-carboranes with good overall radiochemical yields in short reaction times. The same synthetic strategy was successfully applied to the preparation of (131)I-labelled analogues, and further extension to other radioisotopes of iodine such as (124)I (positron emitter) or (123)I (gamma emitter) can be envisaged. Hence, the general strategy reported here is suitable for the preparation of a wide range of radiolabelled Cc-substituted o-carborane derivatives. The labelled compounds might be subsequently investigated in vivo by using nuclear imaging techniques such as Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography or Positron Emission Tomography.