No-carrier-added synthesis of aliphatic and aromatic radioselenoethers via selenocyanates.

Various aliphatic and aromatic [(75)Se]selenoethers were prepared at the no-carrier-added (n.c.a.) level using a new radiosynthetic pathway, based on the formation of alkyl[(75)Se]selenocyanates as intermediates. Using one-pot model reactions of elemental (75)Se, sodium cyanide and various alkylbromides in ethanol, the preparation of alkyl[(75)Se]selenocyanates was examined and optimized. Purification of these (75)Se-labeled intermediates and subsequent conversion with alkyl and aryl lithium or Grignard compounds in anhydrous diethyl ether yielded radioselenoethers with radiochemical yields of up to 55% (related to (75)Se(0)) within an overall reaction time of 20 min. This is the first method described to obtain n.c.a. arylselenoethers.