Synthesis of [(14) C]omarigliptin.

An efficient synthesis for [(14) C]Omarigliptin (MK-3102) is described. The initial synthesis of a key (14) C-pyrazole moiety did not work due to the lack of stability of (14) C-DMF-DMA reagent. Thus, a new radiolabeled synthon, (14) C-biphenylmethylformate, was synthesized from (14) C-sodium formate in one step in 92% yield and successfully used in construction of the key (14) C-pyrazole moiety. Regioselective N-sulfonation of the pyrazole moiety was achieved through a dehydration-sulfonation-isomerization sequence. [(14) C]MK 3102 was synthesized in five steps from (14) C-biphenylmethylformate with 25% overall yield.