Synthesis of [3H]‐labelled 4‐[Ethyl[2,5,6‐trimethyl‐7‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl]amino]‐2,3‐[3H]‐butan‐1‐ol: a high affinity radioligand for the corticotropin‐releasing hormone type 1 receptor

[³H]‐Labelled 4‐[ethyl[2,5,6‐trimethyl‐7‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl]amino]‐2,3‐[³H]‐butan‐1‐ol ( 3b ) was prepared as a novel non‐peptidic radiolabelled high affinity antagonist of the corticotropin‐releasing hormone type 1 receptor (CRHR₁) that could be useful as a more stable and receptor‐selective alternative to the radiolabelled peptides now used to label the CRHR₁ receptor for displacement studies in cell‐based binding assays. The precursor (Z)‐4‐[ethyl[2,5,6‐trimethyl‐7‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐yl]amino]but‐2‐en‐1‐ol ( 2 ) was reduced with tritium gas using palladium as the catalyst. After HPLC purification 3b was obtained with a specific activity of 35 Ci/mmol in high radiochemical purity (>97%). Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.