Optimization of the labeling yield by determination of the Cu–acetonitrile complex constant in Cu-catalyzed nucleophilic exchange reactions in mixed solvent conditions

To apply the Cu-assisted nucleophilic exchange based radioiodination of aromatic compounds for more lipophilic compounds the reaction is carried out in mixed solvent conditions. Due to its physicochemical properties acetonitrile is an attractive solvent. Although acetonitrile forms complexes with Cu decreasing the labeling yield. This article describes a method for the determination of the complex constant at labeling temperature based on a Lineweaver–Burk approach, relating the reaction rate constant and the concentration of precursor in presence of different amounts of acetonitrile. The method also allows to calculate the adjusted amount of copper salt in order to obtain the same high labeling yield as obtained in absence of acetonitrile.