NZ574164A

NZ574164A - Novel compound having affinity for amyloid

Info

Publication number: NZ574164A
Application number: NZ574164A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Shigeyuki Tanifuji; Akio Hayashi; Daisaku Nakamura; Shinya Takasaki; Anthony Eamon Storey; Denis Raymond Christophe Bouvet
Original assignee: Nihon Mediphysics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-06-21
Filing date: 2007-06-21
Publication date: 2012-01-12
Also published as: ES2629768T3; JP5247442B2; JPWO2007148755A1; TW200811175A

Abstract

Disclosed is a compound of formula (1) where the substituents are as disclosed in the description. Example of compound of formula (1) are: 2-[4'-(3"[18F]fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a] pyridine and 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy) phenyl] imidazo [1,2-a] pyridine. Also disclosed is a low-toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease comprising a compound of formula (1); a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (1) and the use of a compound of formula (1) for the preparation of a composition or agent.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> * SPECIFICATION NOVEL COMPOUND HAVING AFFINITY FOR AMYLOID 5 TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a compound for use in diagnosis of cerebral degenerative disease. More specifically, the invention relates to a compound useful 10 for amyloid detection at lesion sites in diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and other diseases with amyloid accumulation. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] 15 Diseases with the onset of deposition of a fibrous protein called amyloid in various organs or tissues in bodies are generally referred to as amyloidosis. A feature common to amyloidosis is that the fibrous protein called amyloid which is enriched with the |3-sheet 20 structure is deposited at various organs systemically or at sites topically so that functional abnormalities are triggered in the organs or tissues.

[0003] Alzheimer's disease (hereinafter referred to as AD), 25 which is a typical amyloidosis disease, is known as a disease causing dementia. This disease is lethal with progressive deposition of amyloid in brain, and thus is said to be a disease that causes concern in society r t - 2 - compared with other amyloidosis diseases. In recent years, the number of AD patients is rapidly increasing in developed countries with aging societies, thereby causing a social problem. 5 [0004] From the pathohistological viewpoint, AD is characterized by three pathological findings in brain, namely development of senile plaques, formation of neurofibrillary tangles, and extensive neuronal loss. 10 The senile plaque has a structure mainly composed of amyloid, and is said to appear at the earliest stage of AD onset and thus is pathologically found in brain about 10 or more years before appearance of clinical symptoms.

[0005] 15 AD is diagnosed by carrying out various evaluations of cognitive functions (for example, Hasegawa scale, ADAS-JCog and MMSE) in auxiliary combination with imaging diagnosis such as CT and MRI. However, the method based on such evaluations of cognitive functions is low in 20 diagnostic sensitivity at the early stage of the onset, and is furthermore problematic in that diagnostic results are susceptible to inborn cognitive functions of individuals. At present, it is practically impossible to establish a definite diagnosis of AD while an AD patient 25 is still alive, because the definite diagnosis requires a biopsy of a lesion (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0006] Meanwhile, a report tells that amyloid constituting - 3 - senile plaques is an aggregate of amyloid (5 protein (hereinafter referred to as A3) . Also, numerous reports tell that the A3 aggregate forms a 3-sheet structure that causes nerve cell toxicity. Based on these findings, the 5 so-called "Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis" is proposed, which suggests that cerebral deposition of Ap triggers the downstream phenomena, namely, formation of neurofibrillary tangles and neuronal loss (Non-Patent Document 2). 10 [0007] Based on these facts, attempts have recently been made to detect AD in vivo using a compound having high affinity with amyloid as a marker. Many of such probes for imaging diagnoses of 15 cerebral amyloid are hydrophobic low-molecular compounds that are high in affinity with amyloid and high in cerebral transferability and are labeled with various radioactive species such as 1:lC, 18F and 123I. For example, reports tell 1:LC or radioactive halogen labeled forms of 20 compounds including various thioflavin derivatives such as 6-iodo-2-[4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]benzothiazole (hereinafter referred to as TZDM), and 6-hydroxy-2-[4'-(N-methylamino)phenyl]benzothiazole (hereinafter referred to as 6-0H-BTA-1) (Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 25 3); stilbene compounds such as (E)-4-methylamino-4'- hydroxystilbene (hereinafter referred to as SB-13) and (E)-4-dimethylamino-4'-iodostilbene (hereinafter referred to as m-I-SB) (Patent Document 2, Non-Patent Document 4, RECEIVED at IPONZ on 29 November 2011 - 4 - Non-Patent Document 5); benzoxazole derivatives such as 6-iodo-2-[4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]benzoxazole (hereinafter referred to as IBOX) and 6 —[2 — (fluoro)ethoxy]-2-[2-(2-dimethylaminothiazol-5- 5 yl)ethenyl]benzoxazole (Non-Patent Document 6, Non- Patent Document 7), DDNP derivatives such as 2— (1—{6 — [(2- fluoroethy1)(methyl)amino]-2- naphthyl)ethylidene)malononitrile (hereinafter referred to as FDDNP) (Patent Document 4, Non-Patent Document 8); 10 and imidazopyridine derivatives such as 6-iodo-2-[4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hereinafter referred to as IMPY) (Patent Document 3, Non-Patent Document 9). Further, some of these probes for imaging diagnosis have been studied on human imaging 15 and have been reported to show a significant accumulation in AD patient's brain compared with normal persons (Non-Patent Document 10, Non-Patent Document 11) .

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP-T-2004-506723 (WO 02/16333) 20 [Patent Document 2] JP-T-2005-504055 (WO 03/018070) [Patent Document 3] JP-T-2005-512945 (WO 02/085903) [Patent Document 4] JP-T-2002-523383 (WO 00/10614) [Non-Patent Document 1] J. A. Hardy & G. A. Higgins, "Alzheimer's Disease: The Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis.", 25 Science, 1992, 256, p.184-185 [Non-Patent Document 2] G. McKhann et al., "Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Report of the NINCDS-ADRDA Work Group under the auspices of Department of - 5 - Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease.", Neurology, 1984, 34, p.939-944 [Non-Patent Document 3] Z.-P. Zhuang et al., "Radioiodinated Styrylbenzenes and Thioflavins as Probes 5 for Amyloid Aggregates.", J. Med. Chem., 2001, 44, p.1905-1914 [Non-Patent Document 4] Masahiro Ono et al. , "HC-labeled stilbene derivatives as A3-aggregate-specific PET imaging agents for Alzheimer's disease.", Nuclear Medicine and 10 Biology, 2003, 30, p.565-571 [Non-Patent Document 5] H. F. Kung et al., "Novel Stilbenes as Probes for amyloid plaques.", J. American Chemical Society, 2001, 123, p.12740-12741 [Non-Patent Document 6] Zhi-Ping Zhuang et al., "IBOX(2-15 (4'-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-iodobenzoxazole): a ligand for imaging amyloid plaques in the brain.", Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 2001, 28, p.887-894 [Non-Patent Document 7] Furumoto Y et al. , " [13"C] BF-227 : A New 1:LC-Labeled 2-Ethenylbenzoxazole Derivative for 20 Amyloid-3 Plaques Imaging.", European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 20 05, 32, Sup.l, P759 [Non-Patent Document 8] Eric D. Agdeppa et al., "2-Dialkylamino-6-Acylmalononitrile Substituted Naphthalenes (DDNP Analogs): Novel Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tools in 25 Alzheimer's Disease.", Molecular Imaging and Biology, 2003, 5, p.404-417 [Non-Patent Document 9] Zhi-Ping Zhuang et al., "Structure-Activity Relationship of Imidazo[1,2- - 6 - a]pyridines as Ligands for Detecting 3-Amyloid Plaques in the Brain.", J. Med. Chem, 2003, 46, p.237-243 [Non-Patent Document 10] W. E. Klunk et al., "Imaging brain amyloid in Alzheumer's disease with Pittsburgh 5 Compound-B.", Ann. Neurol., 2004, 55, p.306-319 [Non-Patent Document 11] Nicolaas P. L. G. Verhoeff et al., "In-Vivo Imaging of Alzheimer Disease p-Amyloid With [11C]SB-13 PET.", American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2004, 12, p.584-595 10 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0009] As described above, various compounds are disclosed as probes for imaging diagnosis for amyloid, and 15 researched for clinical application. Experiments in normal mice show that [125I] - labeled TZDM, IBOX and m-I-SB are all transferred into brain 2 minutes after administration. However, these compounds are insufficient in clearance from normal tissues, and 20 tend to accumulate gradually in brain as time passes after administration (JP-T-2005-512945; Zhi-Ping Zhuang et al., Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 2001, 28, p.887- 894; H. F. Kung et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2 001, 123, p. 12740-12741) . When the clearance from normal tissues 25 is insufficient, a problem arises in that sufficient contrast cannot be obtained at amyloid accumulation sites. [1:LC] - labeled SB-13 shows a clearance from normal tissues in experiments in rats, however, it cannot be said that - 7 - the clearance is sufficiently fast (Masahiro Ono et al., Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 2003, 30, p.565-571).

[0010] Meanwhile, it is revealed that compounds having an 5 imidazopyridine skeleton such as IMPY have a property of transferring to brain and accumulating at amyloid after administration, and also have an excellent property of rapid clearance from normal tissues unlike the above-described compounds, as a result of experiments using 10 [125I]-labeled compounds. However, IMPY is a compound positive in reverse mutation test. In order to use this compound as a probe for imaging diagnosis, sufficient care must be taken about dosage and administration manner. (International Publication W003/10643 9 pamphlet) 15 FDDNP is also reported to be positive in reverse mutation test. (International Publication W003/106439 pamphlet)

[0011] A preferable probe targeting amyloid for imaging 20 diagnosis would be a compound that is excellent in affinity with amyloid and sufficiently rapid in clearance from normal tissues like IMPY but is suppressed in toxicity such as mutagenicity. However, no compound with such properties has been disclosed. 25 [0012] The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and aims at providing a compound that has affinity with amyloid, exhibits sufficiently rapid clearance from normal tissues, and is suppressed in toxicity such as mutagenicity. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0013] The inventors have found that a group of compounds satisfying the above-described requirements can be obtained by using a compound with an imidazopyridine-phenyl skeleton to which oxygen is attached at a carbon atom of the phenyl group thereof, and thus have completed the present invention.

[0014] Specifically, the present invention relates to a compound represented by the following formula (1):

[0015] or a salt thereof, and a low-toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease comprising a compound represented by the above formula (1) or a salt thereof.

[0016] In the formula (I), R1 is a group selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, nitro group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms. R1 is preferably hydroxyl group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms, (1) - 9 - and more preferably hydroxyl group, methyl substituent or methoxy substituent. As R2, can be used an appropriate radioactive halogen substituent, preferably a halogen selected from 1SF, 75Br, 5 123I, 1241, 125I or 131I, more preferably a halogen selected from 18F, 76Br, 123I or 125I, and most preferably 18F. Further, m is an integer of 0 to 2.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, 10 there is provided a pharmaceutical composition for in vivo imaging of amyloid deposits comprising a compound represented by the formula (1) or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. According to still another aspect of the present 15 invention, there is provided a compound represented by the formula (1) or a salt thereof for use in medicine. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound represented by the formula (1) or a salt thereof for use in in vivo 20 imaging of amyloid deposits. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an in vivo method for detecting amyloid deposits in a subject comprising the steps of: 25 (a) administering a detectable quantity of a compound represented by the formula (1) or a salt thereof, and (b) detecting the binding of the compound or the salt thereof to amyloid deposit in the subject. 10 According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step (b) is performed by PET or SPECT imaging.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a compound represented by the following formula (2):

[0019]

[0020] or a salt thereof is provided.

[0021] In the formula (2), R3 is a group selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, nitro group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms. R3 is preferably hydroxyl group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms, and more preferably hydroxyl group, methyl substituent or methoxy substituent.

[0022] As R4, can be used a group selected from a nonradioactive halogen substituent, methanesulfonyloxy substituent, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy substituent or aromatic sulfonyloxy substituent. As the non-radioactive halogen substituent, a (2) - 11 - halogen capable of being a target of nucleophilic substitution reactions using radioactive fluorine can be used, and preferably iodine or bromine can be used. Further, m is an integer of 0 to 2. 5 EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In accordance with the present invention, a compound that has affinity with amyloid and is sufficiently fast in clearance from normal tissues and suppressed in 10 toxicity such as mutagenicity can be obtained as well as a diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease with low toxicity. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] 15 Hereinafter, a method for synthesis of a precursor compound for a radioactive halogen-labeled compound according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described, taking the case of 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. 20 [0025] First, 2-bromo-3-hydroxypyridine is allowed to react with methyl iodide in the presence of sodium methoxide to prepare 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine which is then subjected to nitration using a mixed acid of conc. sulfuric acid 25 and conc. nitric acid to convert it to 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine. Subsequently, the reductive elimination of the bromo group and the reduction of the nitro group using palladium-on-carbon are conducted to prepare 2- - 12 - amino-5-methoxypyridine (Fig. 1, Steps 1 through 3). In the series of these reactions, reaction conditions can be determined in accordance with ordinary methods, for example, the method described in a literature, Joseph G. 5 Lombardino, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1981, 24, p.39-42.

[0026] Separately, 4'-hydroxyacetophenone is allowed to react with cupric bromide to prepare 2-bromo-4'-10 hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 1, Step 4). In this instance, reaction conditions can be set in accordance with ordinary methods, for example, the method described in a literature, King, L. Carroll and Ostrum, G. Kenneth, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1964, 29(12), p.3459-3461). 15 [0027] Then, 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine as prepared above are allowed to react with each other to prepare 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 1, Step 5). This 20 step can be done according to the following procedure. [0028] First, 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine are dissolved in an inactive solvent such as acetonitrile, and are allowed to react with each other 25 at a reflux temperature for 2 to 6 hours to produce 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hydrobromide salt as white precipitates. The inactive solvent used in this instance may be acetonitrile or - 13 - another solvent that is usually employed in a similar reaction, for example, methanol and acetone. The reaction temperature may be a temperature allowing refluxing, for example, 90°C when the solvent is 5 acetonitrile. The amount of the solvent to be used may be an amount sufficient to effect the reaction, however, it should be noted that if the solvent is too much, it will become difficult to obtain precipitates of reaction products. For example, when 2-bromo-4'-10 hydroxyacetophenone in an amount corresponding to 10 mmol is used for the reaction, the amount of a solvent to be used can be about 40 to 50 mL.

[0029] Next, the reaction solution is filtered to recover 15 the precipitates. The white precipitates are suspended in a mixed solution of methanol/water (1:1). Then, an aqueous saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution is added thereto in a very excessive amount relative to the suspended precipitates to release 2-(4hydroxyphenyl)-6 -20 methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine as precipitates. The newly generated precipitates are filtered to recover 2-(4'~ hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine as crystals of the target compound in this step. The amount of the mixed solution of water/methanol is not 25 specifically limited as long as it is sufficient to effect the reaction. However, it should be noted that if the amount of the mixed solution is too much, precipitation of crystals will be hindered. For example, - 14 - when 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone in an amount corresponding to 10 mmol is used, the mixed solution of water/methanol may be used in an amount of about 40 to 10 0 mL. The amount of sodium hydrogencarbonate is not 5 specifically limited as long as it is very excessive relative to the above-described precipitates as the reaction substrate. For example, when the reaction is effected under the above-described conditions, the amount of an aqueous saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution 10 to be added to the reaction solution can be about 2 5mL. [0030] Then, the 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine prepared above and 1,3-propanediol mono-p-toluenesulfonate are dissolved in a mixed solution of 15 tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethylformamide. The mixture is then subjected to Mitsunobu reaction with addition of triphenylphosphine and diisopropylazodicarboxylate to prepare the target compound, 6-methoxy~2-[4r-(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 20 (Fig. 1, Step 7). The other reactant 1,3-propanediol mono-p-toluenesulfonate can be easily synthesized in accordance with the method described, for example, in a literature, Abderrahim Bouzide and Gilles Sauve, Organic Letters, 2002, 4(14), p.2329-2332 (Fig. 1, Step 6), and 25 can be used in an excessive amount relative to the reaction substrate, typically about 2.2 times the reaction substrate 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo [1, 2-a] pyridine in molar ratio. The. - 15 - amounts of triphenylphosphine and diisopropylazodicarboxylate can follow the usual conditions of the Mitsunobu reaction, and are typically about equimolar to the other reactant 1,3-propanediol 5 mono-p-toluenesulfonate.

[0031] The compound that has a hydroxyl substituent at the 6-position can be obtained by allowing 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine obtained 10 in the step 5 to react with boron tribromide or the like for demethylation, and then protecting the hydroxyl group at the 6 position with tetrahydropyranyl group or the like, followed by the reaction of the step 7 and finally deprotection of the protective group at the 6-position. 15 The compound that has a methyl or ethoxy substituent attached to the carbon atom at the 6-position can be obtained by using 2-amino-5-methylpyridine or 2-amino-5-ethoxypyridine instead of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine in the step 4. At to the compound that has the substituent 20 at another position in the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine ring, for example, a compound having a methyl substituent or methoxy substituent attached to a carbon atom at the 8-position can be obtained by using 2-amino-3-methylpyridine or 2-amino-3-methoxypyridine instead of 2-25 amino-5-methoxypyridine in the step 4.

[0032] Hereinafter, a method for production of a radioactive halogen-labeled compound according to the present - 16 - invention will be described, taking the case of 2-[4'-(3"_ [18f] fluoropropoxy)phenyl] -6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.

[0033] For the production of 2-[4'-(3"-[18F] fluoropropoxy) phenyl] -6-methoxyimidazo[1, 2-a]pyridine, a mixture containing an phase transfer catalyst, [1SF] fluoride ion and potassium ion is first obtained. [18F] fluoride ion can be obtained by known methods, for example, a method in which H2180 enriched water is used as a target and exposed to proton bombardment. In this instance, the [18F] fluoride ion exists in the H2180 enriched water used as a target. The H2180 enriched water containing the [18F] fluoride ion is allowed to pass through an anion exchange column so that the radioactive fluorine is adsorbed and collected on the column, thereby being separated from the H2180 enriched water. Thereafter, a potassium carbonate solution is allowed to pass through the column to elute the [18F] fluoride ion, and the eluate is supplemented with a phase transfer catalyst and is evaporated to dryness to yield a mixture containing the phase transfer catalyst, [i8p] fluoride ion and potassium ions.

[0034] Herein, various compounds having a property to form an inclusion compound with [18F] fluoride ion can be used as the phase transfer catalyst. Specifically, various compounds for use in producing radioactive fluorine- - 17 - labeled organic compounds can be used, including 18-crown-6-ether and various other aminopolyethers. In the most preferred embodiment, Kryptofix 222 (under trade name, manufactured by Merck) is used. 5 [0035] Then, a solution of the labeling precursor 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p- toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in dimethylformamide is prepared and added to the above-10 prepared mixture containing a phase transfer catalyst, [18F] fluoride ion and potassium ion, and then a reaction condition is given thereto to effect a nucleophilic substitution reaction to yield 2-[4'-(3"-[18F] f luoropropoxy)phenyl] -6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-15 a]pyridine. The reaction condition can be determined according to the conditions for 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and other radioactive fluorine-labeled compounds. For example, a condition may be employed, in which the reaction solution is allowed to react at about 90 to 20 13 0°C for 5 to 10 minutes.

[0036] Other radioactive halogen-labeled compounds can be prepared by appropriately selecting a labeling precursor and a radioactive halogen to be used, and giving a 25 reaction condition according to respective known methods. For example, 2- [4' - (3" - [123I] iodopropoxy) phenyl] - 6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine can be prepared by using a labeling precursor 2-[4'-(3"-chloropropoxy)phenyl]-6- - 18 - methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and subjecting it to complex decomposition reaction with Na[123I] in a solvent of acetone or methanol.

[0037] 5 The diagnostic agent according to the present invention can be prepared as a solution which comprises the present radioactive halogen-labeled compound blended in water, a physiological saline solution or a Ringer's solution optionally adjusted to an appropriate pH, like 10 other commonly-known radioactive diagnostic agents. In this instance, concentration of the present compound should be adjusted to not more than the concentration at which stability of the present compound is ensured. Dosage of the present compound is not specifically 15 limited as long as it is sufficient to obtain an image of distribution of an administered agent. For example, in case of iodine-123-labeled compounds and fluorine-18-labeled compounds, about 50 to 600 MBq per adult body of 60 kg weight can be administered intravenously or locally. 20 Distribution of administered agents can be imaged by known methods. For example, iodine-123-labeled compounds can be imaged by a SPECT apparatus while fluorine-18-labeled compounds can be imaged by a PET apparatus. EXAMPLE 25 [0038] Hereinafter, the present invention is described in more detail by way of Examples, Reference Examples and Comparative Examples. However, these Examples never - 19 - limit the scope of the present invention. In the following Examples, the names of the individual compounds are defined as shown in Table 1. [0039] 5 Table 1: Names of compounds used for evaluation in Examples 2-4 and 5-7 Compound name Common name Compound 1 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Compound 2 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl] - 6 -hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Compound 3 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine Compound 4 2- [4' - (3" - [18F] f luoropropoxy) phenyl] - 6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0040] Reference Example 1: Synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 10 (non-radioactive fluorinated form)

[0041] As a sample for evaluating affinity with amyloid, solubility in fat and mutagenicity of the present compounds, a non-radioactive fluorinated form of 2-[4'~ 15 (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a] pyridine was synthesized.

[0042] 100.0 g (corresponding to 0.575 mol) of 2-bromo-3-hydroxypyridine was dissolved in 310 mL of 20 dimethylsulfoxide, and 575 mL (corresponding to 0.575 mol) of a 1 mol/L sodium methoxide-methanol solution was added thereto. Then, the reaction solution was heated to - 20 - 900C to distill off methanol. After the reaction solution was cooled down to 10°C or lower, 93.9 g (corresponding to 0.662 mol) of methyl iodide was added, and then stirred at room temperature for 20.5 hours. 5 After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into ice water and extracted twice with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed with a 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution, washed twice with a saturated sodium chloride solution, and 10 dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, 65.4 g (corresponding to 0.34 8 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine was obtained (Fig. 2, Step 1).

[0043] 15 262 mL of conc. sulfuric acid was cooled down to -2°C, and 262 mL of 90 % nitric acid was carefully added thereto. Subsequently, 65.3 g (corresponding to 0.347 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine was carefully added thereto. After the reaction mixture was stirred in an 20 ice bath for 10 minutes, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then was heated to 55°C and further stirred for 1.5 hours. After the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, the reaction solution was poured little by little into crushed ice to 25 generate precipitates. The precipitates were filtered and washed with water, and then dried over phosphorus pentaoxide under reduced pressure, to obtain 55.7 g (corresponding to 0.23 9 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6- - 21 - nitropyridine (Fig. 2, Step 2) .

[0044] 55.6 g (corresponding to 0.239 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine was dissolved in 1700 mL of 5 ethanol, and 3 7.3 g (50% wet) of 10 % palladium-carbon was added thereto under argon stream. To the mixture, 283 mL of hydrazine monohydrate was then added dropwise. After the reaction mixture was refluxed for 70 minutes, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature. 10 Then, after palladium-carbon was filtered off, the residue was washed with ethanol, and the washings were combined with the filtrate. The combined solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. Then, 1300 mL of water and 13 0 mL of conc. aqueous ammonia were added to 15 the concentrate, and the resulting mixture was extracted eight times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product was distilled under reduced pressure to obtain 20 26.2 g (corresponding to 0.211 mol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine (Fig. 2, Step 3).

[0045] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a 25 suspension, to which a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added. Then, the resulting mixture was - 22 - refluxed. After five hours, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and 5 subjected to decoloring operation with addition of active charcoal. Then, the resulting solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 20/1), and recrystallized 10 from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether, to obtain 7.25 g (corresponding to 33 7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 2, Step 4).

[0046] 2.15 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-15 hydroxyacetophenone and 1.25 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine were dissolved in 50 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in an oil bath at 90°C for 3.5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was 20 cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered. The precipitates were washed with acetonitrile and dried under reduced pressure. The resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 40 mL of water and 40mL of methanol. Then, 25 about 20 mL of a saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution was added thereto, and the mixture was sonicated for 5 minutes using a ultrasonic washing machine. Precipitates were filtered and recovered from the - 23 - resulting mixture, sufficiently washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 1.96 g (corresponding to 8.16 mmol) of 2-(4hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 2, Step 5). 5 [0047] 242 mg (corresponding to 1.0 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine that was sufficiently dried to remove moisture was dissolved in 10 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 418 mg (corresponding to 10 3.0 mmol) of potassium carbonate was added thereto. The mixture was supplemented with 140 ijL (corresponding to 1.5 mmol) of l-bromo-3-fluoropropane, and then was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was 15 poured into water and extracted three times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed once with water and once with a saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was 20 purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name: manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to 25 obtain 189 mg (corresponding to 0.63 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (hereinafter referred to as Compound 1) (Fig. 2, Step 6). [0048] - 24 - The NMR measurement results of the resulting compound (internal standard: tetramethylsilane) are shown below.

[0049] 5 NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) ^"H-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 7.83-7.79 (m, 2H), 7.64-7.63 (s, 1H), 7.56-7.54 (m, 1H), 7.48-7.45 (m, 1H), 6.95-6.92 (m, 2H), 6.93-6.90 10 (m, 1H) , 4.65 (dt, 2JHF = 47.0 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 4.11 (t, J= 6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 2.17 (dquint, 3JHf = 25.9 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H).

[0050] 13C-NMR (solvent chloroform-dl; resonance frequency: 125 15 MHz): 5 158.48, 149.06, 145.42, 142.64, 126.93, 126.80, 119.39, 117.22, 114.58, 108.31, 107.39, 80.66 (d, zJCf = 164.6 Hz), 63.46 (d, 3Jcf= 5.8 Hz), 56.02, 30.33 (d, 2Jcf = 20.2 Hz).

[0051] 20 19F-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl; resonance frequency: 470 MHz): 5 -221.94 (tt, 2JHF = 47.0 Hz, 3JHF = 25.9 Hz).

[0052] Reference Example 2: Synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 25 (non-radioactive fluorinated form)

[0053] As a sample for evaluating affinity with amyloid, solubility in fat and mutagenicity of the present - 25 - compounds, a non-radioactive fluorinated form of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a] pyridine was synthesized.

[0054] 5 31.11 g (corresponding to 178.88 mmol) of 2-bromo-3- hydroxypyridine was dissolved in 95.8 mL of dimethylsulfoxide, and 89.9 mL (corresponding to 89.9 mmol) of a 1 mol/L sodium methoxide-methanol solution was added thereto. Then, the reaction solution was heated to 10 90°C to distill off methanol. After the reaction solution was cooled down to 5°C or lower, 2 9.2 g (corresponding to 205.62 mmol) of methyl iodide was added, and then stirred at room temperature for 17 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was 15 poured into ice-water and extracted twice with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed with a 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution, washed twice with a saturated sodium chloride solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. After the solvent was distilled off under 20 reduced pressure, 20.74 g (corresponding to 110.31 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine was obtained (Fig. 3, Step 1) -

[0055] 83 mL of conc. sulfuric acid was cooled down to -5°C, 25 and 83 mL of 90 % nitric acid was carefully added thereto. Subsequently, 20.69 g (corresponding to 110.04 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine was carefully added thereto. After the reaction mixture was stirred in an ice bath for - 26 - 5 minutes, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes, and then was heated to 55°C and further stirred for one hour. After the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, the reaction solution was 5 poured little by little into crushed ice to generate precipitates. The precipitates were filtered and washed with water, and then dried over phosphorus pentaoxide under reduced pressure, to obtain 17.41 g (corresponding to 74.71 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine (Fig. 10 3, Step 2) .

[0056] 17.36 g (corresponding to 74.50 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine was dissolved in 520 mL of ethanol, and 11.63 g (50% wet) of 10 % palladium-carbon 15 was added thereto under argon stream. To the mixture, 88.4 mL of hydrazine monohydrate was added dropwise. After the reaction mixture was refluxed for 45 minutes, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature. Then, after palladium-carbon was filtered off, the 20 residue was washed with ethanol, and the washings were combined with the filtrate. The combined solution was concentrated under reduced pressure. Then, 4 02 mL of water and 3 8 mL of conc. aqueous ammonia were added to the concentrate, and the resulting mixture was extracted 25 eight times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product was distilled under reduced pressure to obtain - 27 - 8.14 g (corresponding to 65.57 mmol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine (Fig. 3, Step 3).

[0057] 13.50 g (corresponding to 59.66 mmol) of 4'-5 benzoyloxyacetophenone was dissolved in 1100 ml of methanol, and 34.52 g (corresponding to 71.59 mmol) of tetra-n-butyl ammonium tribromide was added thereto. The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, and was distilled off under reduced pressure to remove the 10 solvent. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed twice with water and then washed with an aqueous saturated sodium chloride solution. After the ethyl acetate layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure, the resulting crude 15 product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: hexane/methylene chloride = 1/1), to obtain 13.38 g (corresponding to 43.84 mmol) of 4'-benzoyloxy-2-bromoacetophenone (Fig. 3, Step 4).

[0058] 20 13.33 g (corresponding to 43.68 mmol) of 4'- benzoyloxy-2-bromoacetophenone and 5.67 g (corresponding to 45.67 mmol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine were dissolved in 481 mL of ethanol. The resulting solution was refluxed for 2 hours. After the reaction solution 25 was cooled, 6.64 g (corresponding to 79.09 mmol) of sodium hydrogencarbonate was added thereto. The resulting reaction mixture was further refluxed for 4 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the solvent - 28 - was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was dissolved in chloroform and then washed with water. After the chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, the solvent was distilled off. 5 The resulting crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/ethyl acetate = 20/1) to obtain 10.20 g (corresponding to 30.87 mmol) of 2-(4' -benzoyloxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 3, Step 5). 10 [0059] 4.90 g (corresponding to 14.83 mmol) of 2-(4'~ benzoyloxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine that was sufficiently dried to remove moisture was dissolved in 245 mL of chloroform and cooled down to -15°C. To 15 this solution, a solution of 12.62 mL (corresponding to 133.48 mmol) of boron tribromide in 134 mL of dichloromethane was added dropwise. After the temperature of the resulting solution was raised to room temperature, the solution was stirred for 17 hours. 20 After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled with ice and supplemented with 66 8 mL of methanol, and further stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product was 25 supplemented with 2 90 mL of chloroform and 2 9 mL of methanol to obtain slurry, and then precipitates were filtered and recovered. The precipitates recovered were washed with chloroform and then dried under reduced - 29 - pressure, to obtain 3.00 g (corresponding to 13.28 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 3, Step 6).

[0060] 5 2.98 g (corresponding to 13.17 mmol) of 2-(4'- hydroxyphenyl)-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was dissolved in 114 mL of dimethylformamide, and 2.19 g (corresponding to 15.8 mmol) of potassium carbonate was added thereto. The resulting mixture was cooled down to 10 4°C. To the resulting solution, a solution of 1.59 mL (corresponding to 21.08 mmol) of methoxymethyl chloride in 4.8 mL of dimethylformamide was added dropwise. After the temperature of the resulting reaction solution was raised to room temperature, the solution was stirred for 15 21 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was concentrated, and then supplemented with 57 mL of chloroform and 57 mL of methanol to obtain slurry. The slurry was filtered to separate it into the filtrate and the precipitate. The precipitate was washed 20 with 114 mL of a mixed solution of chloroform and methanol (1:1), and was combined with the above filtrate, followed by distillation under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol=10/l 25 to 5/1) to obtain 2.03 g (5.78 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methoxymethyl-6- methoxymethoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium chloride (Fig. 3, Step 7). - 30 -

[0061] 2.01 g (corresponding to 5.73 mmol ) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methoxymethyl-6- methoxymethoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridinium chloride was 5 dissolved in 83.6 mL of dimethylformamide, and 3.17 g (corresponding to 22.92 mmol) of potassium carbonate and 1.62 g (corresponding to 11.46 mmol) of l-bromo-3-fluoropropane were added thereto. The mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. After the 10 completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into water and extracted twice by a salting-out extraction procedure using chloroform with addition of sodium chloride. The combined chloroform layer was washed with a saturated sodium chloride solution, dried 15 over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 10/1 to 5/1), to obtain 1.95 g (corresponding to 4.57 mmol) of 2-[4' -(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-4-methoxymethyl-20 6-methoxymethoxyimidazo [1,2-a]pyridinium chloride (Fig. 3, Step 8).

[0062] 1.93 g (corresponding to 4.53 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-4-methoxymethyl-6-25 methoxymethoxyimidazo [1,2-a]pyridinium chloride was dissolved in 2 9 mL of methanol, and 0.95 mL of conc. hydrochloric acid was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed for 2 hours. After the reaction solution - 31 - was cooled, the solution was poured into water, and extracted twice by a salting-out extraction procedure using chloroform with addition of sodium chloride. The combined chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous 5 magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 10/1 to 5/1), to obtain 1.22 g (corresponding to 3.68 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxymethoxyimidazo[1,2-10 a]pyridine (Fig. 3, Step 9).

[0063] 1.18 g (corresponding to 3.57 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxymethoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was dissolved in 2 9 mL of isopropyl alcohol, 15 and 0.59 mL of conc. hydrochloric acid was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed for 23 hours. After the reaction solution was cooled, the solution was poured into water, and extracted twice by a salting-out extraction procedure using chloroform with addition of 20 sodium chloride . The combined chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The resulting crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 10/1), to obtain 481 mg (corresponding to 1.68 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"-25 fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (hereinafter referred to as Compound 2) (Fig. 3, Step 10).

[0064] The NMR measurement results of the resulting - 32 - compound (internal standard: dimethylsulfoxide) are shown below.

[0065] NMR apparatus employed: JNM-GSX-270 (manufactured by 5 Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) XH-NMR (solvent: dimethylsulfoxide-d6 ; resonance frequency: 270 MHz): 5 8.52 (s, 2H), 8.30-8.25 (m, 1H), 7.85-7.79 (m, 1H), 7.67-7.62 (m, 1H), 7.22-7.16 (m, 2H), 5.64 (s, 1H), 4.62 (dt, 2Jhf = 47.0 Hz, J = 5.9 Hz, 2H), 10 4.17 (t, J = 5.9 Hz, 2H) , 2.14 (dquint, 3JHF = 26.2 Hz, J = 5.9 Hz, 2H).

[0066] Reference Example 3: Synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (non-15 radioactive fluorinated form)

[0067] As a sample for evaluating affinity with amyloid, solubility in fat and mutagenicity of the present compounds, a non-radioactive fluorinated form of 2- [4'-20 (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was synthesized.

[0068] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a 25 suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After - 33 - five hours, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to decoloring 5 operation with addition of active charcoal. Then, solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent : chloroform/methanol = 20/1), and then recrystallized from ethyl 10 acetate/petroleum ether, to obtain 7.2 5 g (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 4, Step 1).

[0069] 649 mg (corresponding to 3.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-15 hydroxyacetophenone and 2 85 mg (corresponding to 3.0 mmol) of 2-aminopyridine were dissolved in 2 0 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in an oil bath at 110°C for one hour. After the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature, 254 mg 20 (corresponding to 5.4 mmol) of sodium hydrogencarbonate was added thereto. The resulting mixture was refluxed in an oil bath at 100°C for one hour. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered 25 therefrom. The precipitates were washed with acetonitrile and water, and then dried under reduced pressure to obtain 405 mg (corresponding to 1.9 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 4, Step - 34 - 2) .

[0070] 3 98 mg (corresponding to 1.8 9 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was dissolved in 15 5 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 788 mg (corresponding to 5.7 mmol) of potassium carbonate was added thereto. 260 pL (corresponding to 2.8 mmol) of l-bromo-3-fluoropropane was added to the resulting mixture, and the mixture was stirred for 20.5 hours at room temperature. After the 10 completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into water and extracted three times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed with water and a saturated sodium chloride solution, and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and 15 concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., 20 Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to obtain 2 64 mg (corresponding to 0.98 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (hereinafter referred to as Compound 3) (Fig. 4, Step 3).

[0071] 25 The NMR measurement results of the resulting compound (internal standard: tetramethylsilane) are shown below.

[0072] - 35 - NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) 1H-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 8.09 (dt, J =6.9, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 7.90-7.86 (m, 2H), 5 7.76 (d, J = 0.7 Hz, 1H), 1.62-1.59 (m, 1H), 7.14 (ddd, J = 9.1, 6.7, 1.2 Hz, 1H), 6.99-6.95 (m, 2H), 6.75 (dt, J = 6.7, 1.2 Hz, 1H) , 4.67 (dt, 2JHF = 47.0 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 4.14 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 2.19 (dquint., 3JHF = 25.9 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H). 10 [0073] 13C-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl; resonance frequency: 125 MHz): 5 158.74, 145.68, 145.61, 127.29, 126.67, 125.42, 124.41, 117.29, 114.69, 112.21, 107.21, 80.73 (d, 1JCf = 164.6 Hz), 63.53 (d, 3JCF = 5.3 Hz), 30.42 (d, 2JCF =20.2 15 Hz) .

[0074] 19F-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl; resonance frequency: 470 MHz): 5 -222.04 (dd, 2JhF = 47.0 Hz, 3JHF = 25.9 Hz).

[0075] 20 Reference Example 4: Synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (nonradioactive fluorinated form)

[0076] For the purpose of preparing a calculation formula 25 for use in the calculation of logPHPLc of the present compound, a non-radioactive fluorinated form of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was synthesized. - 36 -

[0077] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 5 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After five hours, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was 10 concentrated under reduced pressure. After the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to decoloring operation with addition of active charcoal, the solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel 15 column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 20/1) , and then recrystallized from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether, to obtain 7.2 5 g (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 5, Step 1). 20 [0078] 441 mg (corresponding to 2.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 44 9 mg (corresponding to 2.0 mmol) of 2-amino-5-iodopyridine were dissolved in 15 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in 25 an oil bath at 110°C for 5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered. The precipitates were washed with acetonitrile, and dried under reduced pressure. The resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 10 mL of water and 10 mL of methanol, and then supplemented with about 10 mL of a saturated sodium 5 hydrogencarbonate solution and sonicated for 5 minutes using an ultrasonic washing machine. Precipitates were filtered and recovered from the resulting mixture, sufficiently washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 526 mg (corresponding to 1.56 mmol) 10 of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 5, Step 2) .

[0079] 673 mg (corresponding to 2.0 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo [1,2-a]pyridine was 15 dissolved in 25 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 831 mg (corresponding to 6.0 mmol) of potassium carbonate was added thereto. 2 75 yiL (corresponding to 3.0 mmol) of 1-bromo-3-fluoropropane was added to the resulting solution, and the solution was stirred for 24 hours at room 20 temperature. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into water, and extracted three times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed with water and a saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, 25 filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform), and further purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under - 38 - trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to obtain 5 349 mg (corresponding to 0.881 mmol) of 2-[4'-(3"- fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 5, Step 3).

[0080] The NMR measurement results of the resulting 10 compound (internal standard substance: tetramethylsilane) are shown below.

[0081] NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) 15 1H-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 8.37-8.35 (m, 1H), 7.88-7.84 (m, 2H), 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.42-7.39 (m, 1H), 7.32 (dd, J = 9.4,1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.99-6.96 (m, 2H), 4.67 (dt, 2JHF = 47.0 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 4.15 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 2.20 (dquint, 3JHF = 25.9 20 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H).

[0082] 13C-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 125 MHz): 5 159.01, 146.23, 144.16, 132.36, 130.28, 127.42, 126.05, 118.31, 114.77, 106.90, 80.72 (d, 1JCF = 164.6 Hz), 25 74.80, 63.57 (d, 3JCF = 5.3 Hz), 30.42 (d, 2JCF = 20.2 Hz).

[0083] 19F-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 470 MHz): 5 -222.09 (dd, 2JHF = 47.0 Hz, 3JHF = 25.9 Hz). - 39 -

[0084] Reference Example 5: Synthesis of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0085] 5 For the purpose of preparing a calculation formula for use in the calculation of logPHPLc of the present compound, a non-fluorinated form of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was synthesized.

[0086] 10 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chlorofonn was 15 added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After five hours, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and subjected to decoloring 20 operation with addition of active charcoal. The solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 20/1) . The product was then recrystallized from ethyl 25 acetate/petroleum ether, to obtain 7 .25 g (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 6, Step 1) .

[0087] - 40 - 441 mg (corresponding to 2.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 44 9 mg (corresponding to 2.0 mmol) of 2-amino-5-iodopyridine were dissolved in 15 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in 5 an oil bath at 110°C for 5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered. The precipitates were washed with acetonitrile, and dried under reduced pressure. The 10 resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 10 mL of water and 10 mL of methanol. The suspension was supplemented with about 10 mL of a saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, and was sonicated for 5 minutes with an ultrasonic washing 15 machine. Precipitates were filtered and recovered from the resulting mixture, washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 526 mg (corresponding to 1.56 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 6, Step 2). 20 [0088] The NMR results of the obtained 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (internal standard substance: dimethylsulfoxide) are shown below. [0089] 25 NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) 1H-NMR (solvent: dimethylsulfoxide-d6; resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 8.86-8.84 (m, 1H), 8.14 (s, 1H), - 41 - 7.78-7.74 (m, 2H) , 7.40-7.35 (m, 2H), 6.86-6.82 (m, 2H).

[0090] 13C-NMR (solvent: dimethylsulfoxide-d6; resonance frequency: 125 MHz): 5 158.08, 145.87, 143.87, 132.48, 5 131.72, 127.67, 124.99, 118.14, 116.14, 108.02, 75.85.

[0091] Reference Example 6: Synthesis of [125I] -2-(4' - (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0092] 10 For the purpose of preparing a calculation formula for use in the calculation of logPHpLc of the present compound, [125I] -2- (4' - (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was synthesized in accordance with the following steps. 15 [0093] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution 20 of 50 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After five hours, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. After the residue 25 was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to decoloring operation with addition of active charcoal, the solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel - 42 - column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 20/1), and then recrystallized from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to obtain 7.25 g (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-5 hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 7, Step 1).

[0094] 2.15 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 1.74 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-amino-5-bromopyridine were dissolved in 50 mL 10 of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in an oil bath at 105°C for 6 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered. The precipitates were washed with 15 acetonitrile, and dried under reduced pressure. The resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 20 mL of water and 20 mL of methanol, and then supplemented with about 25 mL of a saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and sonicated for 5 minutes 20 using an ultrasonic washing machine. Precipitates were filtered and recovered from the resulting mixture, sufficiently washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 2.41 g (corresponding to 8.32 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 25 (Fig. 7, Step 2) .

[0095] 290 mg (corresponding to 1.0 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine that was - 43 - sufficiently dried to remove moisture was dissolved in 10 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide, and 413 mg (corresponding to 3.0 mmol) of potassium carbonate was added thereto. 138 pL (corresponding to 1.5 mmol) of l-bromo-3-fluoropropane 5 was added to the resulting solution, and then the solution was stirred at room temperature for 20.5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into water and extracted three times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was 10 washed with a saturated sodium chloride solution, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name,- manufactured by Japan Analytical 15 Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to obtain 302 mg (corresponding to 0.866 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 20 7, Step 3) .

[0096] 85 mg (corresponding to 0.24 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was dissolved in 10 mL of dioxane, and 2 mL of triethylamine 25 was added thereto. Then, 185 jaL (corresponding to 0.36 mmol) of bistributyltin and 20 mg (at a catalytic amount) of tetrakis-triphenylphosphine palladium were added thereto. After the reaction mixture was stirred at 90°C - 44 - for 24 hours, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (elution solvent: hexane/ethyl acetate = 6/4). Further, the resulting crude product was purified by recycle 5 preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to obtain 10 42 mg (corresponding to 74.2 ymol) of 6-tributylstannyl-2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 7, Step 4).

[0097] The NMR measurement results of the obtained 6-15 tributylstannyl-2-[4'-(3"- fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (internal standard: tetramethylsilane) are shown below.

[0098] NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by 20 Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) 1H-NMR (solvent : chloroform- dl; resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 8.01-7.93 (m, 1H), 7.91-7.87 (m, 2H), 7.75-7.74 (m, 1H), 7.63-7.58 (m, 1H), 7.20-7.11 (m, 1H), 7.00-6.95 (m, 2H) , 4.67 (dt, Jflf = 47.0 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H) , 25 4.15 (t, J" = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 2.20 (dquint, Jrf = 26.1 Hz, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 1.64-1.47 (m, 6H), 1.39-1.31 (m, 6H), 1.19-1.04 (m, 6H), 0.91 (t, J =7.2 Hz, 9H).

[0099] - 45 - To 100 pL of a solution of 6-tributylstannyl-2-[4' -(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in methanol (at a concentration of 1 mg/mL), 50 pL of 1 mol/L hydrochloric acid, 10 to 100 pL of [125I] sodium 5 iodide of 37-370 MBq and 20 pL of 10 %(w/v) hydrogen peroxide were added. After the mixed solution was left to stand at ambient temperature for 10 minutes, the solution was subjected to HPLC under the following conditions, to obtain [125I]-2-(4'- (3"-10 fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine fraction (Fig. 7, Step 5).

[0100] HPLC conditions: Column: Phenomenex Luna C18 (trade name; manufactured by 15 Phenomenex Co.; size: 4.6 x 150 mm) Mobile phase : 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid/acetonitrile containing 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid = 80/20 to 0/100 (17 minutes) Flow rate: 1.0 mL/min. 20 Detector: Ultraviolet visible absorptiometer (Detection wavelength: 282 nm) and radioactivity counter (manufactured by raytest: type STEFFI)

[0101] 10 ml of water was added to the fraction. The 25 resulting solution was passed through Sep-Pak C18 column (trade name: Sep-Pak (registered trademark) Light C18 Cartridges manufactured by Waters: the packed amount of the packing agent: 13 0 mg) so that the column adsorbs and - 46 - collects [125I] -2- (4' - (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. The column was rinsed with 1 mL of water, and then 1 mL of ethanol was passed therethrough to elute [125I] -2-(A' - (3"-5 fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. The amount of radioactivity of the obtained compound was 37.5 MBq at the end of synthesis. Further, the TLC analysis was determined under the following conditions, and as a result, the radiochemical purity of the compound was 10 96.5%.

[0102] TLC analysis conditions: TLC plate: RP-18F254 (trade name; manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc .) 15 Mobile phase: Methanol/water = 20/1 Detector: Bio-imaging Analyzer BAS 2500 (type: BAS-2500 manufactured by FUJIFILM Corporation)

[0103] Reference Example 7: Synthesis of [125I] -2-(4' -20 hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0104] For the purpose of preparing a calculation formula for use in the calculation of logPHPLC/ [125I]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2 -a]pyridine was 25 synthesized in accordance with the following steps.

[0105] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 12 6 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a - 47 - suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL of ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After 5 five hours, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. After the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate and subjected to decoloring operation with addition of active charcoal, 10 the solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/methanol = 20/1), and then recrystallized from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether to obtain 7.2 5 g 15 (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'~ hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 8, Step 1).

[0106] 2.15 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 1.74 g (corresponding to 10.0 20 mmol) of 2-amino-5-bromopyridine were dissolved in 50 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in an oil bath at 105°C for 6 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and 25 recovered. The precipitates were washed with acetonitrile, and dried under reduced pressure. The resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 2 0 mL of water and 2 0 mL of methanol, and - 48 - then supplemented with about 2 5 mL of a saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution and sonicated for 5 minutes using an ultrasonic washing machine. Precipitates were filtered and recovered from the resulting mixture, sufficiently washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 2.41 g (corresponding to 8.32 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 8, Step 2).

[0107] 138 mg (corresponding to 0.476 mmol) of 6-bromo-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was dissolved in 20 mL of dioxane, and 2 mL of triethylamine was added thereto. Then, 3 60 pL (corresponding to 0.713 mmol) of bistributyl tin and 20 mg (at a catalytic amount) of tetrakis-triphenylphosphine palladium were added. After the reaction mixture was stirred at 90°C for 22 hours, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (elution solvent: hexane/ethyl acetate = 1/4). Further, the resulting crude product was purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name, manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), to obtain 47 mg (corresponding to 94.9 pmol) of 6-tributylstannyl-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 8, Step 3) . - 49 -

[0108] To 53 pL of a solution of 6-tributylstannyl-2-(4' -hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine in methanol (at a concentration of 1 mg/mL), 50 pL of 1 mol/L hydrochloric 5 acid, [125I] sodium iodide of 136 MBq (40 yL in volume) and 10 ]iL of 10 % (w/v) hydrogen peroxide were added. After the mixed solution was left to stand at 50°C for 10 minutes, the solution was subjected to HPLC under the same conditions as described in Reference Example 6, to 10 obtain [125I]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo [1, 2-a]pyridine fraction (Fig. 8, Step 4).

[0109] 10 ml of water was added to the fraction. The resulting solution was passed through a reverse phase 15 column (trade name: Sep-Pak (registered trademark) Light C18 Cartridges manufactured by Waters; the packed amount of the packing agent: 130 mg), so that the column adsorbs and collects the [125I]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. The column was rinsed with 1 20 mL of water, and then 1 mL of ethanol was passed therethrough, to elute [125I] -2-(4' -hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. The obtained radioactivity was 37.5 MBq at the end of synthesis. Further, the TLC analysis was determined under the same conditions as 25 described in Reference Example 6, and as a result, the radiochemical purity of the compound was 96.5%.

[0110] Reference Example 8: Synthesis of [123I]-IMPY - 50 -

[0111] [123I] - IMPY was prepared in accordance with the following steps for use in Comparative Examples for evaluations on LogPoctanoi and accumulation in brain. 5 [0112] In accordance with the method described in a literature (Zhi-Ping Zhuang et al., J. Med. Chem., 2003, 46, p.237-243), 6-tributylstannyl-2-[4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was 10 synthesized, and dissolved in methanol (concentration: lmg/mL) . To 53 pL of the resulting solution, 100 pL of 1 mol/L hydrochloric acid, 20-50 pL of [1231] sodium iodide of 190-240 MBq, 10 pL of a 1 mmol/L sodium iodide and 10 pL of 10%(w/v) hydrogen peroxide were added. After the 15 mixed solution was left to stand at 50°C for 10 minutes, the solution was subjected to HPLC under the same conditions as described in Reference Example 4, to obtain [123I]-IMPY fraction.

[0113] 20 10 ml of water was added to the fraction. The resulting solution was passed through a reverse phase column (trade name: Sep-Pak (registered trademark) Light C18 Cartridges manufactured by Waters; the packed amount of the packing agent: 13 0 mg), so that the column adsorbs 25 and collects the [123I]-IMPY. The column was rinsed with 1 mL of water, and then 1 mL of ethanol was passed therethrough, to elute [123I] - IMPY. The obtained radioactivity was 47-56 MBq at the end of synthesis. - 51 - Further, the TLC analysis was determined under the same conditions as described in Reference Example 4, and as a result, the radiochemical purity of the compound was 98.0%. 5 [0114] Example 1: Synthesis of 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

[0115] 100.0 g (corresponding to 0.575 mol) of 2-bromo-3-10 hydroxypyridine was dissolved in 310 mL of dimethylsulfoxide, and 575 mL (corresponding to 0.575 mol) of a solution of 1 mol/L sodium methoxide in methanol was added thereto. Then, the reaction solution was heated to 90°C to distill off methanol. After the 15 reaction solution was cooled down.to 10°C or lower, 93.9 g (corresponding to 0.662 mol) of methyl iodide was added thereto, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20.5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was poured into ice water and 20 extracted twice with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was washed with a 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution, washed twice with a saturated sodium chloride solution, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Then, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure, to 25 obtain 65.4 g (corresponding to 0.348 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine (Fig. 1, Step 1).

[0116] 262 mL of conc. sulfuric acid was cooled down to -2 - 52 - °C, and 262 mL of 90 % nitric acid was carefully added thereto. Then, 65.3 g (corresponding to 0.34 7 mmol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxypyridine was carefully thereto. After the resulting mixture was stirred in an ice bath for 10 5 minutes, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, after the temperature of the mixture was raised up to 55°C, the mixture was stirred for 1.5 hours. After the reaction solution was cooled down, the reaction solution was poured little by little onto 10 crushed ice to generate precipitates. The precipitates were filtered and washed with water. The precipitates obtained was dried over phosphorus pentaoxide under reduced pressure to obtain 55.7 g (corresponding to 0.239 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine (Fig. 1, Step 15 2) .

[0117] 55.6 g (corresponding to 0.23 9 mol) of 2-bromo-3-methoxy-6-nitropyridine was dissolved in 1700 mL of ethanol, and 37.3 g (50% wet) of 10 % palladium-carbon 20 was added thereto under argon stream. Then, 283 mL of hydrazine monohydrate was added dropwise. After the reaction mixture was refluxed for 70 minutes, the reaction solution was cooled down to room temperature. Then, palladium-carbon was filtered off, which was then 25 washed with ethanol. The washings were combined with the filtrate. After the resulting solution was concentrated under reduced pressure, the concentrate was supplemented with 1300 mL of water and 130 mL of conc. aqueous ammonia, - 53 - and extracted eight times with chloroform. The combined chloroform layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting crude product was distilled under reduced pressure, to 5 obtain 26.2 g (corresponding to 0.211 mol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine (Fig. 1, Step 3).

[0118] 50 mL of ethyl acetate was added to 28.17 g (corresponding to 126 mmol) of cupric bromide to obtain a 10 suspension, and a solution of 8.18 g (corresponding to 60.0 mmol) of 4'-hydroxyacetophenone in a mixed solution of 50 mL ethyl acetate and 50 mL of chloroform was added thereto. Then, the mixture was refluxed. After five hours, the reaction solution was cooled down to room 15 temperature and filtered. The resulting filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and subjected to decoloring operation with addition of active charcoal. Then, the solution was filtered and concentrated. The resulting 20 crude product was purified by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent : chloroform/methanol = 20/1) . Further, the product was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/petroleum ether, to obtain 7.25 g (corresponding to 33.7 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'~ 25 hydroxyacetophenone (Fig. 1, Step 4).

[0119] 2.15 g (corresponding to 10.0 mmol) of 2-bromo-4'-hydroxyacetophenone and 1.25 g (corresponding to 10.0 - 54 - mmol) of 2-amino-5-methoxypyridine were dissolved in 50 mL of acetonitrile. The resulting solution was refluxed in an oil bath at 90°C for 3.5 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was 5 cooled down to room temperature, and precipitates were filtered and recovered. The recovered precipitates were washed with acetonitrile, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain crude crystals. The resulting crude crystals were suspended in a mixed solution of 40 mL of 10 water and 40mL of methanol. The suspension was supplemented with about 20 mL of a saturated sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, and sonicated for 5 minutes by an ultrasonic washing machine. The precipitates were filtered and recovered from the resulting mixture, washed 15 with water, and dried under reduced pressure, to obtain 1.96 g (corresponding to 8.16 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 1, Step 5) .

[0120] 20 1.45 mL (corresponding to 20.0 mmol) of 1,3- propanediol was dissolved in 200 mL of methylene chloride. To this solution under an ice bath, 6.96 g (corresponding to 30.0 mmol) of silver oxide, 666mg (corresponding to 4.0 mmol) of potassium iodide and 4.21 g (corresponding 25 to 22.0 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride were added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Insoluble matters were filtered out of the reaction mixture, and were washed with ethyl acetate. - 55 - The washings were combined with the filtrate, and the mixture was concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified with flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: hexane/ethyl acetate = 3/2 to 1/1) to 5 obtain 2.47 g (corresponding to 10.7 mmol) of 1,3-propanediol mono-p-toluenesulfonate (Fig. 1, Step 6). [0121] To a solution of 554 mg (corresponding to 2.40 mmol) of 1,3-propanediol mono-p-toluenesulfonate in 10 mL of 10 tetrahydrofuran, 260 mg (corresponding to 1.08 mmol) of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and 636 mg (corresponding to 2.42 mmol) of triphenylphosphine were added. Further, 5 mL of N,N-dimethylformamide was added thereto to completely dissolve the contents. To 15 the reaction mixture, 0.48 mL (corresponding to 2.42 mmol) of diisopropylazodicarboxylate was added. After the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 23 hours, the reaction solution was concentrated. The resulting crude product was purified by flash silica gel 20 column chromatography (elution solvent: chloroform/ethyl acetate = 19/1), further purified by recycle preparative HPLC (HPLC apparatus: LC-908 (under trade name: manufactured by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.); column: two of JAIGEL 2H (under trade name; manufactured 25 by Japan Analytical Industry Co., Ltd.) connected together; mobile phase: chloroform), and further purified again by flash silica gel column chromatography (elution solvent: hexane/ethyl acetate = 35/65) to obtain 220 mg - 56 - (corresponding to 0.487 mmol) of 6-methoxy-2-[4' -(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (Fig. 1, Step 7).

[0122] 5 The NMR measurement results of the resulting compound (internal standard: tetramethylsilane) are shown below.

[0123] NMR apparatus employed: JNM-ECP-500 (manufactured by 10 Japan Electron Optics Laboratory Co., Ltd. (JEOL)) 1H-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 500 MHz): 5 7.81-7.77 (m, 2H), 7.76-7.72 (m, 2H), 7.71-7.70 (m, 1H), 7.64-7.62 (m, 1H), 7.49-7.46 (m, 2H), 7.24-7.21 (m, 2H), 6.95-6.92 (m, 1H), 6.81-6.77 (m, 2H), 4.25 (t, J 15 = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.95 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 2.11 (quint., J =6.0 Hz, 2H).

[0124] 13C-NMR (solvent: chloroform-dl, resonance frequency: 125 MHz): 5 158.16, 149.11, 145.41, 144.77, 142.71, 132.64, 20 129.75, 127.71, 126.93, 126.85, 119.45, 117.28, 114.47, 108.35, 107.49, 66.99, 62.97, 56.11, 28.77, 21.52.

[0125] Example 2: Synthesis of 2-[4,-(3"~ [18F] f luoropropoxy) phenyl] - 6-methoxyimidazo [1, 2-25 a] pyridine

[0126] [18F] Fluoride ion-containing H2180 (radioactivity 5087 MBq, a value converted at the beginning of synthesis) was - 57 - passed through a Sep-Pak Light QMA (trade name; manufactured by Japan Waters K.K.) to adsorb and collect the [18F] fluoride ions. Then, a potassium carbonate solution (66.7 mmol/L, 0.3 mL) and 1.5 mL of a solution 5 in acetonitrile of 20 mg (corresponding to 53.1 umol) of Kryptofix 222 (trade name,- manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc.) were passed through the column to elute the [1SF] fluoride ions.

[0127] 10 The eluate was heated under helium gas stream to 100°C to evaporate water, and supplemented with acetonitrile (0.3 mL x 2) and azeotropically distilled to dryness. To this, 1.0 mL of a solution in N,N-dimethyIformamide of 5 mg of 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p-15 toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine synthesized in Example 1. Then, the mixture was heated at 130°C for 10 hours. After the reaction solution was cooled down to 30°C/ it was supplemented with 3.0 mL of diethylether, and passed through a Sep-Pak Plus Silica 20 (trade name; manufactured by Japan Waters K.K.). Then, a mixed solution of 3.5 mL of diethylether and 0.5 ml of N,N-dimethylformamide was passed through the Sep-Pak Plus Silica twice. The diethylether solution that had been passed was heated to 60°C under helium gas stream and 25 concentrated. The concentrated solution was diluted with 2 mL of a mixed solution of acetonitrile/water/triethylamine = 550:450:1.

[0128] - 58 - The resulting solution was purified by HPLC (column: SUMIPAX ODS JP-06 (20mm i.d. x 250 mm, manufactured by Sumika Chemical Analysis Service, Ltd.); elution solvent: acetonitrile/water/triethylamine = 500/500/1, flow rate: 5 7.5 mL/min.). An eluate fraction containing the target compound is diluted with 50 mL of water, and then passed through a Sep-Pak Plus CI8 (trade name, manufactured by Japan Waters K.K.) to adsorb and collect the target compound. Then, 2 0 mL of water was passed through the 10 column to wash it. Then, 2 mL of ethanol was passed through the column to elute a solution in ethanol of 2-[4' - (3" - [18F] f luoropropoxy) phenyl] -6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. The obtained radioactivity was 1795 MBq (94 minutes after the start of synthesis). According to the 15 TLC analysis on the following conditions, the radiochemical purity thereof was 90.4 %.

[0129] TLC analysis conditions: TLC plate: Silica Gel 6 0 F254 (under trade name, 20 manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc.) Mobile phase: chloroform/methanol/triethylamine = 50/1/2 Detector: Rita Star (manufactured by Raytest Company)

[0130] Examples 3-5, Comparative Examples 1-5: Measurement of 25 amyloid affinity Affinity of the present compounds with amyloid was examined by the following in vitro binding test.

[0131] - 59 - (1) A3i-4o (Peptide Institute, INC.) (hereinafter referred to as A3i-4o) was dissolved in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and shaken at 37°C for 62-72 hours, to obtain a 1 mg/mL suspension of aggregated A3 (referred to as 5 amyloid suspension hereinafter in the Examples).

[0132] (2) According to the method described in a literature (Naiki, H., et al., Laboratory Investigation 74, p.374-383 (1996)), the amyloid suspension was 10 subjected to qualitative experiment based on fluorescence spectrophotometric method using Thioflavin T (manufactured by Fluka) to confirm that the aggregated A3 obtained in (1) was amyloid (measurement conditions: excitation wavelength of 446 nm, and emission wavelength 15 of 490 nm) .

[0133] (3) According to the method described in a literature (Wang, Y., et al., J. Labelled Compounds Radiopharmaceut. 4£, S239 (2001)), [125I] 2-(3'-iodo-4'- 20 aminophenyl)benzothiazole (hereinafter referred to as [125I] 3'-I-BTA-0) was prepared from a labeling precursor 2-(4'-aminophenyl)benzothiazole, and dissolved in ethanol. As Congo Red, Thioflavin T and 6-methyl-2-[4'-(N,N-dimethylamino)phenyl]benzothiazole (hereinafter referred 25 to as 6-Me-BTA-2), commercially available reagents were weighed and used as they were.

[0134] (4) 2-(3'-Iodo-4'-aminophenyl)benzothiazole - 60 - (hereinafter referred to as 3'-I-BTA-0) and IMPY were synthesized according to the methods described in a literature (Wang. Y., et al., J. Labelled Compounds Radiopharmaceut. 44, S239 (2001)) and a literature 5 (Zhuang, Z. P., et al., J. Med. Chem. £6, 237 (2003)), respectively.

[0135] (5) Samples in which [125IJ 3'-I-BTA-0, each compound for evaluation and amyloid were dissolved in a 0.1 % 10 bovine serum albumin-containing phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at final concentrations shown in Table 2 were prepared. The resulting samples were placed in each well (about 0.3 mL in volume) of a 96-well microplate.

[0136] 15 Table 2: Final concentrations of each compound in sample solutions Experiment Compound for evaluation Concentration of compound for evaluation [125I] 3' -I-BTA-0 concentration Amyloid Comparative Example 1 3'-1-BTA-O Each concentration of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000 nmol/L 4 00 pmol/L 1 ymol/L Comparative Example 2 Congo Red Comparative Example 3 Thioflavin -T Comparative Example 4 6-Me-BTA-2 Comparative Example 5 IMPY Example 3 Compound 1 Example 4 Compound 2 Example 5 Compound 3

[0137] - 61 - (6) A microplate filled with a sample solution was shaken at a given rate (400 rotations/min.) at 22°C for 3 hours. Then, each sample solution was filtered through a glass fiber filter (trade name: Multiscreen™-FC, 5 manufactured by Millipore) , to separate the [125I]3'-I-BTA-0 attached to amyloid from the [125I] 3'-I-BTA-0 free from amyloid.

[0138] (7) The glass fiber filter used for the filtration 10 of each sample solution was washed with a 0.1 % bovine serum albumin-containing phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) (0.5 mL x five times), and radioactivity of the glass fiber filter was measured with an autowell gamma system (manufactured by Aloka, Type: ARC-301B). The 15 radioactivity was used as the radioactivity level of each sample solution for calculating an inhibition ratio (hereinafter, A denotes the radioactivity level in a sample with zero (O) concentration of each compound for evaluation, and B denotes the radioactivity level in a 20 sample with 0.001 nmol/L or higher concentration of each compound for evaluation).

[0139] (8) Separately, a solution containing 15 iamol/L of 6-Me-BTA-2, 400 pmol/L of [125I] 3'-I-BTA-0 and 1 pmol/L of 25 Api-4o was prepared and subjected to the same procedures as described above in (6) and (7) to measure a radioactivity level. The measured radioactivity level was defined as the background radioactivity level, and - 62 - used in the calculation of the inhibition ratio (hereinafter referred to as BG).

[0140] (9) Using the radioactivity levels measured above in (7) and (8), the inhibition ratio was determined by the following formula (1).

[0141] B-BG xlOO (%) (1) A-BG

[0142] 10 A graph in which values converted by probit transformation from the obtained inhibition ratios were plotted relative to logarithms of concentrations of compounds for evaluation was prepared to obtain an approximate straight line by the least square method. 15 Using the line, the concentration of each compound for evaluation was determined, at which the radioactivity level is half of the level of the sample free from each compound for evaluation, and was defined as a 50 % inhibition concentration of each compound (hereinafter 20 referred to as IC50% value) . Using the value as an indicator, affinity of each compound for evaluation with amyloid (aggregated A(3i-4o) was evaluated.

[0143] IC50% value of each compound for evaluation is shown 25 in Table 3. Compounds 1 to 3 all showed IC5o% values of less than 100 and had higher affinity with amyloid (aggregated A(Bi-40) than Congo Red and Thioflavin T. The - 63 - results show that Compounds 1 to 3 have good affinity with amyloid (aggregated A(3i-40) . In particular, Compound 1 has higher affinity with amyloid (aggregated A(3i-40) than 3'-I-BTA-0 and 6-Me-BTA-2 and had the affinity 5 comparable to IMPY.

[0144] Table 3: IC50% values of the present compounds Experiment Compound for evaluation IC50% values (nmol/L) Comparative Example 1 3'-I-BTA-0 10.1 Comparative Example 2 Congo Red >1000 Comparative Example 3 Thioflavin T >1000 Comparative Example 4 6-Me-BTA-2 25.4 Comparative Example 5 IMPY 0 . 8 Example 3 Compound 1 1.1 Example 4 Compound 2 30 . 5 Example 5 Compound 3 36 . 6

[0145] Example 6, Comparative Example 6: Measurement of 10 partition coefficient based on the octanol extraction method

[0146] Partition coefficients based on the octanol extraction method (hereinafter referred to as logPoctanoi) 15 were measured, which are generally used as an indicator of permeability of compounds through the blood-brain barrier (hereinafter referred to as BBB).

[0147] - 64 - To 2 mL of octanol, 10 uL of a solution containing Compound 4 (Example 5) and 2 mL of a 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were added and stirred for 30 seconds. After the mixture was centrifuged (2000 rpm x 60 min.) 5 with a low-speed centrifuge (model: CENTRIFUGE CT4D manufactured by Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.), the octanol layer and the water layer were sampled each in an amount of 1 mL, and subjected to measurement of radioactivity with an autowell gamma system (manufactured by Aloka, 10 Type: ARC-301B). Using the obtained radioactivity, logPoctanoi was calculated in accordance with the equation (2) .

[0148] _ /Radioactivity count of octanol layer\ °9 Poctanoi °9io y Radioactivity count of water layer ) 15 [0149] The results are shown in Table 4. It is known that compounds permeable to BBB show a logPoctanoi value between 1 and 3 (Douglas D. Dischino et al., J. Nucl. Med., (1983), 24, p. 1030-1038) . Compound 4 showed a logPoctanoi 20 value of 1.8, and thus it is implied that Compound 4 has a BBB permeability comparable to IMPY of the Comparative Example.

[0150] Table 4 : logPoctanoi value of the present compound Experiment Compound logPoctanoi value Comparative Example 6 [123I] -IMPY 2 . 1 Example 6 Compound 4 1.8 25 [0151] - 65 - Examples 7-9, Comparative Example 7: Measurements of partition coefficient based on HPLC

[0152] The partition coefficient by HPLC (hereinafter 5 referred to as logPHPLc) was measured by the following method. It is known that the logPHPLc shows the same numerical value at a pH of 7.2 to 7.4 as the logPoctanoi value which is generally known as an indicator of permeability of compounds to BBB (Franco Lombardo et al., 10 J. Med. Chem., (2000), 43, p.2922-2927).

[0153] First, compounds for evaluation shown in Table 5 were dissolved at a concentration of 1 mg/mL in methanol containing 10 % dimethylsulfoxide to prepare sample 15 solutions. One uL of the sample solution was subjected to HPLC analysis under the following conditions to determine the elution time (t0) of the solvent and the elution time (tR) of each compound.

[0154] 20 Table 5: Compounds for evaluation in experiments Experiment Compound for evaluation Comparative Example 7 IMPY Example 7 Compound 1 Example 8 Compound 2 Example 9 Compound 3

[0155] HPLC conditions: Column: Prodigy ODS (3) (product name; manufactured by - 66 - phenomenex; size: 4.6 x 250 mm) Mobile phase: a mixed solution of 50 mM triethylamine phosphate (pH 7.2)/acetonitrile = 40/60 Flow rate: 0.7 mL/min. 5 Detector: ultraviolet visible absorptiometer (detection wavelength: 2 82 nm)

[0156] Using the obtained t0 and tR, the retention factor (hereinafter referred to as K'hplc value) of each compound 10 for evaluation was determined according to the calculation formula (3).

[0157] ■K'hpl.c = (tR to)/ to ...(3)

[0158] 15 Separately, 10 pL each of a solution of [125I]-2-(4'- (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (37 MBq/mL in radioactivity concentration) synthesized above in Reference Example 6 and a solution of [125I]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (37 MBq/mL in 20 radioactivity concentration) synthesized above in Reference Example 7 was added to 2 mL of octanol prepared separately, and 2 mL of 10 mmol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was further added to the respective solutions. After the individual solutions were stirred for 30 25 seconds, the solutions were centrifuged at 2,000 rpm for 60 minutes. Radioactivity each of 1 mL of the octanol phase and 1 mL of the water phase was counted by an autowell gamma system (manufactured by Aloka Co., Ltd.: - 67 - Type ARC-3 0IB). Based on the obtained radioactivity, logPoctanoi values were calculated according to the above equation (2) .

[0159] 5 Further, a solution of 2-(4'-(3"~ fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine synthesized above in Reference Example 4 and a solution of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine synthesized above in Reference Example 5 were each 10 subjected to HPLC analysis in the same manner as described above to determine K' Hplc values.

[0160] A graph was prepared, in which the logPoctanoi values of [125I] -2- (4' - (3"-f luoropropoxy) phenyl-6-15 iodoimidazo [1, 2-a] pyridine and [125I]-2-(4'- hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine are respectively plotted relative to the logi0K' Hplc values of 2-(4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-20 a]pyridine, so that the slope and the intercept on the axis Y of the straight line were determined. Using these values, the following formula (4) was determined, provided that the logPoctanoi value is equal to the logPHPLc value at a pH of 7.2 to 7.4. 25 [0161] logPhplc = 0.96 (logtf'HPLc) +1.59 ... (4)

[0162] Using K'hplc obtained for each compound for evaluation, - 68 - the logPjjpLc value of each compound for evaluation was determined according to the above calculation formula (4).

[0163] The results are shown in Table 6. As shown in the 5 Table, the logPHPLc values of Compounds 1 through 3 were all between 1 to 3. As mentioned above, it is known that compounds permeable to BBB have a logPoctanoi value between 1 to 3 (Douglas D. Dischino et al., J. Nucl. Med., (1983), 24, p. 1030-1038) . And, it is known that the logPHPLc 10 shows the same value at a pH of 7.2 to 7.4 as the logPoctanoi (Franco Lombardo et al. , J. Med. Chem., (2000), 43, p.2922-2927). The above-mentioned results imply that Compounds 1 to 3 have a BBB-permeable property.

[0164] 15 Table 6 : logPHPLC value of the present compound Experiment Compound logPHPLc value Comparative Example 7 IMPY 2 . 1 Example 7 Compound 1 1. 7 Example 8 Compound 2 1. 4 Example 9 Compound 3 1.7

[0165] Example 10, Comparative Example 8: Measurement of transferability into brain and clearance

[0166] 20 Using Compound 4, a time course change of radioactive accumulation in brain of male Wistar rats (7-week old) was measured.

[0167] 0.05 mL (15-31 MBq/mL in radioactive concentration) - 69 - of a solution of Compound 4 in a 10 mg/mL ascorbic acid-containing physiological saline solution and a solution of [123I] - IMPY (Comparative Example 7) prepared above in Reference Example 8 in a 10 mg/mL ascorbic acid-5 containing physiological saline solution were each injected under thiopental anesthesia into the tail vein of the rats. The rats were sacrificed by bleeding from abdominal artery, and brains were removed and subjected to measurement of radioactivity (hereinafter referred to 10 as A in this Example) with an autowell gamma system (Type: ARC-301B manufactured by Aloka Co., Ltd.) and further subjected to measurement of mass of brains 2, 5, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection. Also, radioactivity (hereinafter referred to as B in this 15 Example) of 0.05 mL of a 1000-fold diluted solution of the injected solution was measured in the same manner as above. Using these measurement results, radioactive distributions per unit weight of brain (%ID/g) at the respective time points were calculated in accordance with 20 the following formula (5) . Three animals were used for experiment at the respective time points.

[0168] %ID/g = xlOO ... (5) B x 1000 x brain weight

[0169] 25 The results are shown in Table 7. As shown in Table 7, Compound 4 showed a concentration higher than 123I-IMPY at the time point of two minutes after the injection, and - 70 - then showed a tendency to rapidly clear way in 60 minutes. These results suggest that Compound 4 possesses excellent transferability to brain and rapid clearance from brain comparable to 123I-IMPY. 5 [0170] Table 7: Radioactive concentration in brain of the present compound after intravenous injection (rats) Compound Radioactive concentration per unit weight (%ID/g) After 2 min. After 5 min. After 30 min. After 60 min. Example 10 Compound 4 1.36 0 . 93 0 .23 0 .13 Comparative Example 8 1231-IMPY 1. 02 0 . 99 0.20 0 . 08

[0171] Example 11: Confirmation of imaging of amyloid in brain 10 [0172] The following experiment was carried out in order to examine whether amyloid in brain can be imaged by the compound of the present invention.

[0173] 15 (1) A 1 mg/mL suspension of aggregated A(J (hereinafter referred to as amyloid suspension in this Example) was obtained by dissolving Af3i-42 (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) in a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), followed by shaking at 37°C for 72 hours. 20 [0174] (2) 2.5 pL (corresponding to 25 pg) of the amyloid suspension was injected into an amygdaloid nucleus on one side of a male Wistar rat (7-week old) . As a control, 71 2.5 pL of a phosphate buffered physiological saline solution (pH 7.4) was injected into an amygdaloid nucleus on the other side of the rat. The rats were examined 3 days after the injection of the amyloid suspension and 5 the phosphate buffered physiological saline solution.

[0175] (3) Compound 4 was dissolved in a 10 mg/mL ascorbic acid-containing physiological saline solution to obtain a sample solution (84 MBq/mL in radioactivity 10 concentration) . This solution was injected into the rat through the tail vein (dosage: 0.5 mL, dosed radioactivity: 42MBq equivalent).

[0176] (4) Brain was removed 3 0 minutes after the injection 15 to prepare a brain slice of 10 pm in thickness with a microtome (type: CM3050S, manufactured by LEICA). The brain slice was exposed to an imaging plate for 1.5 hours, and then image analysis was carried out by use of a Bio-imaging Analyzer (type: BAS-2500; manufactured by 20 FUJIFILM Corporation).

[0177] (5) After the completion of the image analysis using the Bio-imaging Analyzer, pathological staining with Thioflavin T was carried out to perform imaging by use of 25 a fluorescence microscope (manufactured by NIKON Corporation; type: TE2000-U model; excitation wavelength: 400-440 nm; detection wavelength: 470 nm). Thus, it was confirmed that amyloid was deposited on the slice (Fig. - 72 - 9b) .

[0178] Fig. 9 shows images by autoradiogram and Thioflavin T staining of the brain slice of the rat to which amyloid 5 was injected intracerebrally. As shown in Fig. 9, an excellent image was obtained in which there was a marked accumulation of radioactivity in the amygdaloid nucleus on the side to which the amyloid suspension was injected whilst non-specific accumulation is low at the other 10 sites. From the result of Thioflavin T staining in the site where radioactivity accumulated, it was confirmed that Amyloid was present in the accumulation site. On the other hand, no significant accumulation of radioactivity was observed in the amygdaloid nucleus on 15 the side to which the phosphate buffered physiological saline solution was injected, compared with the other sites. These results suggest that Compound 4 possesses a property of accumulating on intracerebral amyloid, and a 20 capability of imaging intracerebral amyloid.

[0179] Example 12 through 14: Reverse mutation test

[0180] In order to examine mutagenicity of Compound 1, 25 Compound 2 and Compound 3, reverse mutation test using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 (hereinafter referred to as Ames test) was conducted.

[0181] - 73 - The test was conducted without addition of S9mix and with addition of S9mix. Dimethylsulf oxide was used as a negative control. A positive control was 2-(2-furyl)-3- (5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide in case S9mix was not added, 5 and 2-aminoanthracene in case S9 mix was added.

[0182] The amount of each sample to be added to the test plate was 7 dosages (geometric ratio 4) with the maximum dose being 1250 pg/plate for Compound 1, and 7 dosages 10 (geometric ratio 3) with the maximum dose being 5000 mg/plate for Compound 2 and Compound 3. After a sample to be examined and a strain (TA98 or TA100), or a sample to be examined, S9mix and the strain were mixed together, the mixture was multilayered using soft agar on a medium 15 of a test plate, and then incubated at 3 7°C for 4 8 hours. Judgment was made by counting the number of reverse mutation colonies on the plate after the incubation, and when the number of reverse mutation colonies was not less than two times the number in negative control and showed 20 concentration-dependent increase, mutagenicity was determined to be positive.

[0183] The results are shown in Table 8. The numbers of reverse mutation colonies of the respective strains in 25 the group treated with Compounds 1, 2 and 3 were less than two times the number of the negative control, regardless of addition of S9mix. In the groups treated with the positive control, apparent increase of the - 74 - number of reverse mutation colonies was observed. From the aforementioned results, it is judged that Compounds 1, 2 and 3 are negative in the Ames test and have no mutagenicity. 5 [0184] Table 8: Results of Ames test Compound Mutagenicity Without addition of S9mix With addition of S9mix TA98 TA100 TA98 TA100 Example 12 Compound 1 Negative Negative Negative Negative Example 13 Compound 2 Negative Negative Negative Negative Example 14 Compound 3 Negative Negative Negative Negative INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY [0185] The compounds of the invention can be utilized in 10 the field of diagnostic agents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0186] Fig. 1 is a scheme of synthesis of 6-methoxy-2-[4'-(3"-p-toluenesulfonyloxypropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-15 a]pyridine. Fig. 2 is a scheme of synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-methoxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (non-radioactive fluorinated body). Fig. 3 is a scheme of synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"-20 fluoropropoxy)phenyl]-6-hydroxyimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (non-radioactive fluorinated form). - 75 - Fig. 4 is a scheme of synthesis of 2-[4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (nonradioactive fluorinated form). Fig. 5 is a scheme of synthesis of 2-(4'-(3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Fig. 6 is a scheme of synthesis of 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Fig. 7 is a scheme of synthesis of [125I]-2-(4'- (3"-fluoropropoxy)phenyl-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Fig. 8 is a scheme of synthesis of [125I]-2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-6-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine. Fig. 9(a) is an autoradiogram of the brain slice 30 minutes after the injection of Compound 4, and Fig. 9(b) is a fluorescent microscopic image of the Thioflavin T stained sample (a magnification of the site to which the amyloid suspension was injected). RECEIVED at IPONZ on 29 November 2011 - 76 - </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS

1. A compound represented by the following formula (1): R1 (1) or a salt thereof, wherein R1 is a group selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, nitro group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is a radioactive halogen substituent; and m is an integer of 0 to 2.

2, A compound according to claim 1 or a salt thereof, wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of from 18F, 76Br, 12 3 T 12 4 T -L i -L i 1 2 5 -r- 1 3 1 -r- I or I .

3. A compound according to claim 1 or 2 or a salt thereof, wherein R2 is 18F.

4. A compound represented by the following formula (2) Rc ,RA m (2) or a salt thereof, wherein R3 is a group selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 Received by IPONZ on 24 August 2010 -77- carbon atoms; R4 is a group selected from methanesulfonyloxy substituent, trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy substituent or aromatic sulfonyloxy substituent; and m is an integer of 0 to 2.

5. A low-toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease, which comprise a compound represented by the following formula (1): or a salt thereof, wherein R1 is a group selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, nitro group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is a radioactive halogen substituent; and m is an integer of 0 to 2.

6. A low-toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease, according to claim 5, wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of from 18F, 76Br, 123I, 124I, 125I or 131I.

7. A low-toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease, according to claim 5 or 6, wherein R2 is 18F.

8. A pharmaceutical composition for in vivo imaging of amyloid deposits comprising a compound represented by the formula (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or (1) RECEIVED at IPONZ on 29 November 2011 - 78 - excipient.

9. A compound represented by the formula (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a salt thereof for use in medicine.

10. A compound represented by the formula (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a salt thereof for use in in vivo imaging of amyloid deposits.

11. The use of a detectable quantity of a compound represented by the formula (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or a salt thereof, in the production of a composition for detecting amyloid deposits in a subject, wherein the composition is adapted to be administered to the subject and the binding of the compound or the salt thereof to amyloid deposit in the subject be detected.

12. A use according to claim 11, wherein detection is performed by PET or SPECT imaging.

13. The use of a compound represented by the following formula (1): group, carboxyl group, sulfate group, amino group, nitro group, cyano group, an alkyl substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms or an alkoxy substituent with one to 4 carbon atoms; m is an integer of 0 to 2; in the manufacture of a low- R2 is a radioactive halogen substituent; and RECEIVED at IPONZ on 29 November 2011 - 79 - toxic diagnostic agent for Alzheimer's disease.

14. The use according to claim 13, wherein R2 is selected from the group consisting of from 18F, 76Br, 123I, 124I, 125I 131T or I .

15. The use according to claim 13 or 14, wherein R2 is 18F .

16. A compound of formula (1) according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples and/or Figures thereof.

17. A compound of formula (2) according to claim 4, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples and/or Figures thereof.

18. The use according to claim 11, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples and/or Figures thereof.

19. The use according herein described with accompanying Examples to claim 13, substantially as reference to any one of the and/or Figures thereof. </div>