Synthesis of diazipine and [3H]diazipine: novel dihydropyridines as photoaffinity probes of calcium channels.

Diazipine and [3H]diazipine were synthesized as new 1,4-dihydropyridine photoaffinity ligands containing a phenyldiazirine group. After simple high performance liquid chromatography separation, both compounds were purified in good overall yields. [3H]Diazipine (21.2 Ci/mmol) was synthesized in two steps from commercially available [3H]ethanolamine. Diazipine competitively inhibited [3H]PN200-110 binding to the calcium channel of cardiac membranes with high affinity.