Methods and agents for preparing

1. A method for preparing an anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F − ) x , wherein:

Q is an organic moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyls, heteroalkyls, aryls, heteroaryls, alkenyls, alkynyls, and polymers;

n is an integer such that [Q n M] carries at least one formal positive charge;

M is a moiety capable of supporting a positive charge; and

x is an integer representing the number of formal positives charge(s), +, carried by the [Q n M];

the method comprising:

(a) a nucleophilic reaction of a 18 F-radiolabeled fluoride salt with an unsaturated carrier compound in an anhydrous polar aprotic solvent, wherein the unsaturated carrier compound is selected from the group consisting of:

an aromatic compound, an electron deficient aromatic compound, a heteroaromatic compound, and an electron deficient heteroaromatic compound;

to produce a 18 F-radiolabeled carrier compound; and

(b) reacting the 18 F-radiolabeled carrier compound with a nucleophilic composition having the formula [Q n M] x+ A x ″, wherein A is nucleophile, in a second nucleophilic reaction to yield the anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F − ) x .

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein M is nitrogen, phosphorus, cobalt, palladium, iodine, arsenic, antimony, ora transition metal complex.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the anhydrous polar aprotic solvent is acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, hexasmethylposphoric triamide, diethyl ether, dioxane, dimethoxyethane, methyl tert-butyl ether, N-methylpyrrolidinone, benzonitrile, nitrobenzene, chlorobenzene, or butyronitrile.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the unsaturated carrier compound is an electron deficient aromatic compound or an electron deficient heteroaromatic compound.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one 18 F-radiolabeled fluoride ion of the 18 F-radiolabeled fluoride salt replaces at least one leaving group of the unsaturated carrier compound by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of the at least one leaving group of the unsaturated carrier compound is a sulfonate, a sulfate, a halide, a carboxylate, a nitrate, a nitrite, a cyanate, an isocyanate, an azide, a thiocyanate, an ether, an amine, a phosphine, or a nitrogen molecule.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein A is a cyanide, a thiocyanate, a phenoxide, an arylalkoxide, a thiolates, an enolate, an imide anion, amide anion, an isothiocyanate, a phosphine, or an amine.

8. An anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F − ) x , wherein:

M is a moiety capable of supporting a positive charge;

Q is an independently varied organic moiety selected from the group consisting of alkyls, heteroalkyls, aryls, heteroaryls, alkenyls, alkynyls, and polymers;

n is an integer such that [Q n M] carries at least one formal positive charge; and

x is an integer representing the number of formal positive charge(s), +, carried by the [Q n M].

9. A method for preparing an 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical comprising preparing an anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F −) x in accordance with the method of claim 1 and reacting the anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent with a drug intermediate to produce an 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical.

10. A method for preparing an 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer comprising preparing an anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F − ) x in accordance with the method of claim 1 and reacting the anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent with a drug intermediate to produce the 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer.

11. An anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent prepared by the method of claim 1 .

12. An 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical prepared by the method of claim 9 .

13. An 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer prepared by the method of claim 10 .

14. A method for imaging a subject by positron electron tomography using an 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer comprising preparing an anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F − ) x in accordance with the method of claim 1 , reacting the anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent with a drug intermediate to produce the 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer, administering to a subject the 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiotracer and, imaging the subject by positron electron tomography.

15. A method for treating a disease using an 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical comprising preparing an anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent having the formula [Q n M] x+ ( 18 F −) x in accordance with the method of claim 1 , reacting the anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent with a drug intermediate to produce the 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical and administering to a subject the 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinated radiopharmaceutical.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the subject is a human or an animal.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the subject is a human or an animal.

18. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the anhydrous polar aprotic solvent is acetonitrile or dimethyl sulfoxide.

19. An anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent as set forth in claim 8 wherein M is nitrogen, phosphorus, cobalt, palladium, iodine, arsenic, antimony, or a transition metal complex.

20. An anhydrous 18 F-radiolabeled fluorinating agent as set forth in claim 8 wherein A is a cyanide, a thiocyanate, a phenoxide, an arylalkoxide, a thiolates, an enolate, an imide anion, amide anion, an isothiocyanate, a phosphine, or an amine.