201Structure of halothane.Biomedical Applications
Positron emission tomography is commonly carried out using fluoride-containing pharmaceuticals
such as fluorodeoxyglucose, which is labeled with the radioactive isotope fluorine-18, which emits
positrons when it decays into^18 O.
Numerous drugs contain fluorine including antipsychotics such as fluphenazine, HIV protease
inhibitors such as tipranavir, antibiotics such as ofloxacin and trovafloxacin, and anesthetics such
as halothane. Fluorine is incorporated in the drug structures to reduce drug metabolism, as the
strong C-F bond resists deactivation in the liver by cytochrome P450 oxidases.
Fluoride salts are commonly used to inhibit the activity of phosphatases, such as serine/threonine
phosphatases. Fluoride mimics the nucleophilic hydroxyl ion in these enzymes' active sites.
Beryllium fluoride and aluminum fluoride are also used as phosphatase inhibitors, since these
compounds are structural mimics of the phosphate group and can act as analogues of the transition
state of the reaction.
Toxicology