Chemical and biological studies of Re(I)/Tc(I) thiosemicarbazonate complexes relevant for the design of radiopharmaceuticals

Abstract

Five thiosemicarbazones (H2Ln) derived from 4,6-diacetylresorcinol (n = 1–4) and salicylaldehyde (n = 5) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies on some of them show that the molecular structure is dominated by intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving the O(1)–H group of the resorcinol/salicylaldehyde group and the azomethinic nitrogen atom and sulfur atom of the thiosemicarbazone arm. All of the ligands react with fac-[ReBr(CO)3(CH3CN)2] in the presence of NEt3 to form the stable anionic complexes [NHEt3][fac-[Re(Ln)(CO)3] (1–5). The thiosemicarbazonate ligand, as suggested by spectroscopic data and confirmed by X-ray diffraction, acts as a tridentate S,N,O system. The complexes are stable in solution for weeks, although other dimeric species were also detected by X-ray diffraction analysis. The reaction of fac-[99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ with the appropriate ligand at 100 °C for 30 min yielded the complexes [fac-[99mTc(Ln)(CO)3]− (Tc1–Tc5). The radiochemical yield and purity were determined by HPLC and their chemical identity was ascertained by comparing their radiochromatogram with the chromatogram of the rhenium congeners (1–5). The results of biodistribution studies in mice on the five technetium compounds showed rapid blood clearance and fast liver uptake that slowly cleared into the intestines, a finding that indicates the hepatobiliary tract as the major excretory pathway. HPLC analysis of urine and blood serum samples from mice injected with the 99mTc complexes confirmed their in vivo stability since the predominant radiochemical species had the same retention time as the corresponding injected compound.