One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of preparing
radiofluorinated substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and alkenyl
compounds. In a preferred embodiment, potassium fluoride-18 is used.
Another aspect of the invention relates to piperazine compounds
containing fluorine-18 that are useful as imaging agents. In certain
embodiments, the piperazine compounds contain a quaternary amine. Another
aspect of the invention relates to arylphosphonium compounds containing
fluorine-18 that are useful as imaging agents. In certain embodiments,
the phosphonium compound is a tetraaryl phosphonium salt. Another aspect
of the present invention relates to a method of obtaining a positron
emission image of a mammal, comprising the steps of administering to a
mammal a compound of the invention, and acquiring a positron emission
spectrum of the mammal.