Synthesis of [3H]ABT-518, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI) labeled in the phenyl rings

A novel matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, ABT-518, [S-(R*, R*)]-N-[1-(2, 2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxol-4-yl)-2-[[4-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenoxy]phenyl]sulfonyl]ethyl]-N-hydroxyformamide, was labeled with tritium in two phenyl rings in a seven-step synthesis. The overall radiochemical yield of [H-3]ABT-518 in seven steps starting from 1-(methylsulfonyl)-4-[4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy]benzene was 6.2% with the radiochemical purity of 99.4%.