Routine synthesis of L-[18F]6-fluorodopa with fluorine-18 acetyl hypofluorite.

The synthesis of L-[18F]6-fluorodopa (2.4-10.6 mCi) was done by passing gaseous [18F]acetyl hypofluorite through a solution of L-methyl-N- acetyl-[beta-(3-methoxy-4-acetoxyphenyl)]alaninate in acetic acid at room temperature followed by the hydrolysis of the intermediate products with concentrated hydriodic acid. The desired fluorodopa isomer was isolated in 8% EOB radiochemical yield by high performance liquid chromatography in an overall synthesis time of 100 min.