A new cytectrene prototype of general formula RCpTc(CO) 3 (R = C 6 H 5 NHCO, Cp = cyclopentadienyl moiety) has been synthesized from N-phenylferrocenecarboxamide 2, characterized and evaluated as a potential brain perfusion imaging agent. An improved procedure has been developed to obtain both the ligand 2, characterized by its solid-state structure (