New amphetamine derivatives

In 1975 for the first time the possibility of using /sup 77/Br-labelled amine derivatives for the brain-scintigraphy was pointed out. Not until 5 years later was it reported again about these new kinds of radiopharmaceuticals, which are able to cross the blood-brain-barrier. In 1981 the first paper on the application of such a testing-compound on human beings came out. One year later the first emission-computer-tomographic results were presented. For about the last two years /sup 123/I-labelled N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP) has been used for the diagnosis of brain diseases. /sup 123/I-HIPDM showed similarly good results. However, due to the fact that there is only 5 to 10% cerebral uptake, relatively high amounts of the /sup 123/I-labelled tracer have to be administered, resulting in high costs. Above that, its extensive pulmonary retention leads to a high radiation burden to this organ. These reasons prompted the authors to evaluate other tracers with superior properties for brain imaging