Disclosed is the synthesis of [18F]flumazenil that is useful in imaging epileptic lesions by PET (positron emission tomography). A method for preparing [18F]flumazenil by reacting a diaryliodonium salt precursor with the positron-emitting radionuclide fluorine-18. [18F]flumazenil can be prepared from the diaryliodonium salt precursor in the presence of kryptofix2.2.2./potassium carbonate(K2.2.2./K2CO3) and TEMPO in dimethylformamide (DMF) at a high yield.