Recent progress in [(11)C]carbon dioxide ([(11)C]CO(2)) and [(11)C]carbon monoxide ([(11)C]CO) chemistry

[(11)C]Carbon dioxide ([(11)C]CO(2)) and [(11)C]carbon monoxide ([(11)C]CO) are 2 attractive precursors for labelling the carbonyl position (C═O) in a vast range of functionalised molecules (eg, ureas, amides, and carboxylic acids). The development of radiosynthetic methods to produce functionalised (11)C‐labelled compounds is required to enhance the radiotracers available for positron emission tomography, molecular, and medical imaging applications. Following a brief summary of secondary (11)C‐precursor production and uses, the review focuses on recent progress with direct (11)C‐carboxylation routes with [(11)C]CO(2) and (11)C‐carbonylation with [(11)C]CO. Novel approaches to generate [(11)C]CO using CO‐releasing molecules (CO‐RMs), such as silacarboxylic acids and disilanes, applied to radiochemistry are described and compared with standard [(11)C]CO production methods. These innovative [(11)C]CO synthesis strategies represent efficient and reliable [(11)C]CO production processes, enabling the widespread use of [(11)C]CO chemistry within the wider radiochemistry community.