A new method for the fluorine-18 labelling of trifluoromethyl ketones has been developed. This method is based on the conversion of a-COCF3 functional group to a difluoro enol silyl ether followed by halogenation and fluorine-18 labelling. The utility of this new method was demonstrated by the synthesis of fluorine-18 labelled neutrophil elastase inhibitors, which are potentially useful for detection of inflammatory disorders.

This study reports a new application area of difluoro enol silyl ethers, which can be easily obtained from trifluoromethyl ketones. The main focus has been directed to the electrophilic fluoroalkylation and arylation methods. The trifluoromethylthiolation of difluoro enol silyl ethers can be used for the construction of a novel trifluoromethylthio-alpha, alpha-difluoroketone (-COCF2SCF3) functionality. The -CF2SCF3 moiety has interesting properties due to the electron-withdrawing, albeit lipophilic, character of the SCF3 group, which can be combined with the high electrophilicity of the difluoroketone motif. The methodology could also be extended to difluoro homologation of the trifluoromethyl ketones using the Togni reagent. In addition, we presented a method for transition-metal-free arylation of difluoro enol silyl ethers based on hypervalent iodines.

This thesis deals with the development of new fluorination reactions and their application to fluorine-18 labelling. Fluorine-18 labelled compounds are employed as tracers in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which is a powerful non-invasive imaging method in medical diagnostics.

The first part of this thesis focuses on the development of a late-stage halogen exchange-based fluorination method for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated molecules. The first project in this area relies on the application of a copper(I)-based fluorinating reagent to furnish trifluoroacetates, trifluorotoluenes and trifluoroacetamides. The second project involves the translation of this methodology into the fluorine-18 labelling of tertiary and secondary trifluoroacetamides. The targeted substrates were labelled in high radiochemical yield and high molar activity using [¹⁸F]Bu₄NF as fluorine source in the presence of an organic activator.

In the second part, the development of electrophilic fluorination reactions using a hypervalent iodine-based reagent is discussed. The first project in this area addresses the development of an electrophilic fluorine-18 fluorination reagent: [¹⁸F]fluoro-benziodoxole. The utility of this reagent was demonstrated in the labelling of [¹⁸F]fluoro-benzoxazepines. In the second project, the same [¹⁸F]fluoro-benziodoxole reagent was used in the rhodium-mediated synthesis of α-[¹⁸F]fluoroethers. High molar activities were obtained in these electrophilic labelling processes. In the third project, the fluorine-19 analog fluoro-benziodoxole was used in the palladium-catalyzed iodofluorination of allyl benzenes, styrenes and cycloalkenes. Both iodine and fluorine atoms in the product arise from the same reagent.

Geminal ¹⁸F-oxyfluorination of diazoketones was performed in the presence of rhodium mediators. The reactions were performed using a hypervalent iodine-based [¹⁸F]fluoro-benziodoxole reagent. By this methodology various α-[¹⁸F]fluoro ethers were obtained in high radiochemical yield (up to 98%) and molar activity (216 GBq μmol^-1).

Operationally simple radiosynthesis and purification of [F-18]fluoro-benziodoxole was developed starting from a cyclotron produced [F-18]F- precursor, [F-18]TBAF, and tosyl-benziodoxole. The synthetic utility of [F-18]fluoro-benziodoxole was demonstrated by electrophilic fluorocyclization of o-styrilamides proceeding with high RCC (typically 50-90%) and high molar activity (up to 396 GBq mol(-1)).

The nucleophilic fluorination of bromodifluoromethyl derivatives mediated by the complex (PPh3)(3)CuF is described. Under the reaction conditions, different trifluoroacetates, trifluorolcetones, trifluoroarenes and trifluoroacetamides were obtained in good yields.

Nucleophilic F-18-fluorination of bromodifluoromethyl derivatives was performed using [F-18] Bu4NF in the presence of DBU(1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene). This novel procedure provided a diverse set of [F-18] trifluoroacetamides in good to excellent radiochemical conversions. A mechanism where DBU acts as organomediator in this transformation is proposed.

The application of an air- and moisture-stable fluoroiodane reagent was investigated in the palladium-catalyzed iodofluorination reaction of alkenes. Both the iodo and fluoro substituents arise from the fluoroiodane reagent. In the case of certain palladium catalysts, the alkene substrates undergo allylic rearrangement prior to the iodofluorination process. The reaction is faster for electron-rich alkenes than for electron-deficient ones.