A gold-complex initiated functionalization of biologically active polyphenols applied to a ¹⁸F-labeled chemical probe

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a key component of green tea, exerts therapeutic anticancer and antiallergic properties through its binding to the 67 kDa laminin receptor. The functionalization of EGCG is a promising strategy for creating new drug candidates and chemical probes. In our study, we developed a method for effectively modifying the A ring of EGCG through an electrophilic aromatic substitution with amidomethyl 2-alkynylbenzoates initiated with a gold complex. The 2-alkynylbenzoates treated with (Ph₃P)AuOTf under neutral conditions yielded N-acylimines. A further electrophilic aromatic substitution resulted in a mixture of EGCG substituted with acylaminomethyl groups at the 6 and 8 positions with a significant amount noted at the 6 position. We then explored the synthesis of ¹⁸F-labeled EGCG with a neopentyl labeling group, an effective labeling group for radiohalogens of not only fluorine-18 but also of astatine-211. To achieve this, we prepared precursors that possessed acid-sensitive protecting groups and base-unstable leaving groups using our established method. Substitution of EGCG with a neopentyl labeling group at either the C6 or C8 position did not affect its anticancer efficacy in U266 cells. Finally, we investigated the preparation of ¹⁸F-labeled EGCG. The ¹⁸F-fluorination of a mixture of 6- and 8-substituted precursors yielded the corresponding ¹⁸F-labeled compounds in 4.5% and 3.0% radiochemical yields (RCYs), respectively. Under acidic conditions, the ¹⁸F-labeled 8-substituted compound produced ¹⁸F-labeled EGCG in 37% RCY, which heralds the potential of our functionalization approach.