In a search of coordination molecules suitable to the fac-{(99m)Tc(CO)3}(+) core as a synthon for (99m)Tc-radiopharmaceuticals, nonradioactive rhenium complexes of two macrocyclic triamine compounds with different chelate ring structures, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (9N3) and 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane (12N3), were synthesized and characterized. (99m)Tc-labeled 9N3 and 12N3 compounds were also prepared using [(99m)Tc(OH 2)3(CO)3](+) and were characterized by both in vitro and in vivo studies. 9N3 produced a single rhenium complex, whereas 12N3 generated two major complexes. The crystallographic data and infrared absorption wavenumber assigned to the C-O stretch suggested that the coordination geometry of 9N3 would be more suitable to fac-{Re(CO)3}(+) than that of 12N3. In contrast, both 9N3 and 12N3 provided a single (99m)Tc-labeled compound. However (99m)Tc-labeled 9N3 exhibited higher stability than (99m)Tc-labeled 12N3 in rat plasma and in the presence of histidine at an elevated temperature. In biodistribution studies, both (99m)Tc-labeled compounds did not show any specific accumulation of radioactivity in any organs except for the excretory organs such as the liver and kidney. These findings showed that 9N3 would constitute a macrocyclic chelating molecule of choice to prepare (99m)Tc radiopharmaceuticals using a fac-{(99m)Tc(CO)3}(+) core.

In search of benzamidoxime (BHam) derivatives that provide a single (99m)Tc-labeled compound of high in vivo stability, we synthesized three N-alkyl compounds of benzamidoxime (BHam) ligand. They provided a single (99m)Tc-labeled compound by ligand exchange reaction of (99m)Tc-glucoheptonate in high radiochemical yields (over 95% at MBHam concentration of 1 × 10(-5) M). (99m)Tc-N-methyl benzamidoxime ((99m)Tc-MBHam) showed higher stability than the parental (99m)Tc-BHam. The complex of this compound with (99g)TcO(3+) ion was prepared, isolated, and characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectra as well as X-ray diffraction. (99g)Tc-MBHam crystallized in an orthorhombic space group Pna2(1) with a = 13.4823(5), b = 15.5410(7), c = 7.7907(3) Å, V = 1632.39(11) Å(3), and Z = 4. The (99g)Tc complex possessed square base pyramid coordination geometry. The equatorial plane was formed by two-amine nitrogen and two-oxime oxygen atoms in trans position, while the oxo core of the technetium(V) occupied the apical position. The (99g)Tc-MBHam proved to be identical with the (99m)Tc-MBHam prepared at the no-carrier-added level by comparison of their HPLC profiles.