2-deoxy-2-fluoro-α-D-glucose

**Description:** 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-α-D-glucose (FDG) is a synthetic glucose analog in which the hydroxyl group at the C‑2 position of D-glucose is replaced by a fluorine atom. The most widely used form, particularly in clinical and research settings, is the radiolabeled variant [^18F]FDG, which serves as a tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. FDG mimics glucose and is transported into cells via glucose transporters; once inside, it is phosphorylated by hexokinase to FDG‑6‑phosphate but cannot undergo further glycolysis due to the fluorine substitution at C‑2. This leads to intracellular accumulation of FDG‑6‑phosphate in metabolically active tissues such as tumors or inflamed regions, enabling their visualization on PET scans[1][5][8]. Mechanistically, non-radioactive forms of this compound act as glycolytic inhibitors and can interfere with N-linked glycosylation processes[3]. While primarily used as an imaging agent rather than a therapeutic drug, related compounds have been explored experimentally for cancer therapy and antiviral applications[3].

Other names

FDG2-Deoxyglucose analogFluorodeoxyglucose