Abstract 2-{2-[4-(4-[18 F]-Fluorobenzyl) piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl} isoindolin-1-one ([18 F] MEL054), is a new potent indolinone-based melanin binder designed to target melanotic tumours.[18 F] MEL054 was prepared by an automated two-step radiosynthesis, comprising of the preparation of 4-[18 F] fluorobenzaldehyde from 4-formyl-N, N, N-trimethylanilinium triflate, followed by reductive alkylation with 2-(2-oxo-2-piperazin-1-ylethyl) isoindolin-1- ...