Synthesis of meta-substituted [18F]-3-fluoro-4-aminopyridines by direct radiofluorination of pyridine N-oxides

Disclosed herein are methods for the fluorination aromatic N-heterocyclic N-oxides that comprise at least one leaving group. The N-oxides may be reduced to the fluorinated aromatic N-heterocyclic amine analogs. This novel fluorination approach may be successfully applied for synthesizing aromatic N-heterocyclic compounds labeled with 18F.