Silicon-[18F]Fluorine Radiochemistry: Basics, Applications and Challenges

Silicon-[18F]Fluorine (Si-18F) radiochemistry has recently emerged
alongside other unconventional approaches such as aluminum-F-18 and
boron-F-18 based labeling strategies, reshaping the landscape of
modern F-18-radiochemistry. All these novel methodologies are
driven by the demand for more convenient F-18-labeling procedures
to further disseminate one of the most sophisticated imaging
technologies, Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The PET
methodology requires special radionuclides such as F-18 (one of the
most prominent examples) to be introduced into bioactive molecules.
Si-F-18 radiochemistry contributed greatly towards the development
of new radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging. Herein, we describe
the radiochemical basics of Si-F-18 bond formation, the application
of Si-F-18 tracers for PET imaging, and additionally, the inherent
chemical intricacies of this methodology.