Synthesis, receptor binding, and target-tissue uptake of carbon-11 labeled carbamate derivatives of estradiol and hexestrol.

The reaction of ethyl chloroformate with amino compounds has been evaluated as a simple route to carbon-11 labeling of steroid hormone-receptor-based imaging agents. Both a 17 beta-amino analogue of estradiol and an aminoethyl derivative of the nonsteroidal estrogen hexestrol with potential affinity for the estrogen receptor were studied. The unlabeled carbamate derivatives of the amino estrogens were prepared by standard methods, and the 11C-labeled analogues were synthesized from [11C]ethyl chloroformate, generated by purging ethanol with [11C]phosgene. Both carbamates showed weak in vitro binding affinity for the estrogen receptor, and only the 11C-labeled hexestrol exhibited a small but significant estrogen-responsive uterus uptake in immature rats.