Synthesis and selective 2 H-, 13 C-, and 15 N-labeling of the Tau protein binder THK-523.

A new synthetic route to the Tau binder, THK-523, is disclosed herein, which can easily be adapted to 13 C- and D-isotope labeling. The synthesis proceeds via two key reactions, namely, a Pd-catalyzed carbonylative Sonogashira coupling and a reductive ring-closing step with hydrogen or deuterium gas. By carrying out these reactions in a 2-chamber reactor we reported previously, ex situ-generated carbon monoxide and hydrogen/deuterium can be applied in stoichiometric quantities, thereby facilitating isotope labeling of this Tau-binding compound. Iridium-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions were performed on THK-523 and its 13 C-labeled analog providing access to 4 additional analogues labeled with deuterium as well. Finally, by applying a Buchwald-Hartwig coupling, we were able to prepare a 15 N-THK-523 variant with the isotope label in the quinoline ring system.