Synthesis of a tritium labeled tetrafluoro-substituted aryl azide photoaffinity labeling agent for chloride channels. Application of [3H]-sodium borohydride-cobalt chloride to tritium labeling

5-Nitro-2-[N-3-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)-propylamino]-benzoic acid (FAzNPPB), a photoaffinity analog of the potent epithelial chloride channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) has been prepared in five steps from commercially available 4-amino-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzonitrile. The main feature of this synthesis was the use of NaBH4-CoCl2 to convert an aryl-substituted alkenyl nitrile precursor to the corresponding alkyl amine. The feasibility of this approach and the stoichiometry were developed by model work with cinnamonitrile. Using sodium borotritide-cobalt chloride, [3H]-FAzNPPB (specific activity 13.9 mCi/mmol, radiochemical purity >99%) was prepared in three steps from (E)-4-amino-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-cinnamonitrile. [3H]-Sodium borohydride, cobalt chloride, azide, photaffinity, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB). (author)