Synthesis of high specific activity (3,4-[3H]cyclohexyl)-N-[1 (2-benzo[b]thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine {[3H]BTCP}: A selective probe for the dopamine-reuptake complex

High specific activity [³H]BTCP, a radioligand for the dopaminereuptake complex was synthesized in 7-steps starting with the readily available starting materials, cyclohexane-1,4-dione monoethylene ketal and benzo[b]thiophene; the tritium label was introduced in the final step on the 3- and 4- positions of the cyclohexyl ring by catalytic tritiation of N-[4-(2-benzo[b]thienyl)cyclohexenyl]piperidine to give [³H]BTCP in 7.3% yield with a specific activity of 29.8 Ci/mmol (51.4% isotopic incorporation).