A SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE CAVITY FOR REDUCING RADIOLABELING REACTION-TIMES, DEMONSTRATED BY ALKYLATIONS WITH [C-11] ALKYL-HALIDES

A single-mode microwave cavity was constructed for microscale reactions with consideration taken to the space limitations typical for shielded working spaces used with positron emitting radionuclides. The effect of the microwave field in this cavity on typical reaction media is demonstrated. Reaction times for radiolabelling neuroreceptor ligands with [C-11]methyl iodide and [2-C-11]isopropyl iodide were shown to be considerably seduced compared with the times reported in the literature for the corresponding thermal procedures.