Compositions of phospholipid ether boronic acids and esters and methods for their synthesis and use

1. A boronic acid or ester of a phospholipid ether analog having the structure:

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of

wherein n is an integer between 8 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising NH 2 , NHR, NR 2 , and NR 3 , wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent.

2. The boronic acid or ester of a phospholipid ether analog of claim 1 , wherein the boronic acid or ester of the phospholipid ether analog has the structure:

3. A compound having the structure:

wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs and Rb and the compound is an intermediate in the synthesis of the boronic ester of the phospholipid ether analog according to claim 2 .

4. A boronic ester of a phospholipid ether analog having the structure

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of

where n is an integer between 8 and 30; and Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, OCH 3 , OC 2 H 5 , OC 3 H 7 ; and Z is selected from the group consisting of NH 2 , NHR, NR 2 and NR 3 , wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent.

5. A method of synthesizing a high specific activity phospholipid ether (PLE) analog, comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling an ester of diboron with a PLE or APC analog in the presence of a catalyst to result in a boronic acid or ester PLE or APC analog;

(b) esterifying the boronic acid of the PLE analog with 1,2- or 1,3-diols to result in the boronic esters of PLE or APC analog to step (a); and

(c) reacting the boronic acid or ester of PLE or APC analog of step (a) or (b) with sodium radiohalide, in the presence of an oxidant to result in a high specific activity radiohalogenated PLE or APC analog,

and wherein said specific activity phospholipid ether (PLE) analog is labeled with 125 I or 131 I.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the coupling reaction of step (a) is carried out with methanol as a solvent at temperature of about 15-70° C. in the presence of a Pd catalyst.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein in step (c) the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of: dichloramine-T, chloramine-B, dichloramine-B, iodogen, iodogen coated tubes, iodobeads, N-chlorosuccinimide, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, m-chloro-perbenzoic acid and peroxidase.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the catalyst is

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: H for Pybox, i-Pr for i-Pr-Pybox, s-Bu for s-Bu-Pybox, and Ph for Ph-Pybox.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the synthesis of the high specific activity PLE analog proceeds through an intermediate having the structure:

wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Cs and Rb and the compound is an intermediate in the synthesis of the boronic ester of the phospholipid ether analog according to claim 3 .

10. A method of decreasing the growth of cancer wherein the method comprises:

(a) administering to a patient in need thereof a boron-conjugated phospholipid ether analog; and

(b) administering radiation therapy to the patient;

wherein cancer cells are bombarded by radiation thereby decreasing the growth of cancer.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the radiation therapy is external radiation therapy, internal radiation therapy, neutron beam radiation therapy or combinations thereof.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the boron-conjugated phospholipid ether analog has the structure:

wherein X is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein n is an integer between 8 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising NH 2 , NHR, NR 2 , and NR 3 , wherein R is a, an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the boronic acid or ester of the phospholipid analog has the structure:

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cancer is selected from a group consisting lung cancer, adrenal cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, subcutaneous cancer, squamous cell cancer, adenocarcinoma, intestinal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, retinoblastoma, cervical cancer, glioma, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, carcinosarcoma, hepatoma and carcinosarcoma.