Expeditious syntheses of stable and radioactive isotope‐labeled anticonvulsant agent,JNJ‐26990990, and its metabolites

Syntheses of stable and radioactive isotope‐labeled anticonvulsant agent, JNJ‐26990990, that is, N‐(benzo[b]thien‐3‐ylmethyl)‐sulfamide and its metabolites are described. [¹³C¹⁵N]Benzo[b]thiophene‐3‐carbonitrile was first prepared by coupling of 3‐bromo‐benzo[b]thiophene with [¹³C¹⁵N]‐copper cyanide. The resultant [¹³C¹⁵N]benzo[b]thiophene‐3‐carbonitrile was reduced with lithium aluminum deuteride to give [¹³CD₂¹⁵N]benzo[b]thiophen‐3‐yl‐methylamine; which was then coupled with sulfamide to afford [¹³CD₂¹⁵N]‐N‐(benzo[b]thien‐3‐ylmethyl)‐sulfamide, the stable isotope‐labeled compound with four stable isotope atoms. Direct oxidation of [¹³CD₂¹⁵N]‐N‐(benzo[b]thien‐3‐ylmethyl)‐sulfamide with hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid gave the stable isotope‐labeled sulfoxide and sulfone metabolites. On the other hand, radioactive ¹⁴C‐labeled N‐(benzo[b]thien‐3‐ylmethyl)‐sulfamide was prepared conveniently by sequential coupling of 3‐bromo‐benzo[b]thiophene with [¹⁴C]‐copper cyanide, reduction of the carbonitrile to carboxaldehyde, and reductive amination with sulfamide.