Heart Imaging with Cationic Complexes of Technetium

The cationic technetium-99 complex trans-[$^{99}$TC(dmpe)$_{2}$Cl$_{2}$]$^{+}$, where dmpe is bis(1,2-dimethylphosphino)ethane or (CH$_{3}$)$_{2}$P-CH$_{2}$CH$_{2}$-P(CH$_{3}$)$_{2}$, has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal, x-ray structural analysis. The technetium-99m analog, trans-[$^{99\text{m}}$Tc(dmpe) $_{2}$Cl$_{2}$]$^{+}$, has also been prepared and shown to yield excellent gamma-ray images of the heart. The purposeful design, characterization, and synthesis of this technetium-99m radiopharmaceutical represents a striking application of fundamental inorganic chemistry to a problem in applied nuclear medicine.