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The selective activation of sp3 carbon–hydrogen bonds in the presence of multiple C–H bonds is challenging and remains of supreme importance in chemical research. Late-stage modification of complex molecules via sp3 C–H activation is of high prevalence in organic synthesis. Herein, we describe the activation of a C(sp3)–H bond in the α-position to an amine via a carbanion intermediate. In the presence of several α-amine sites, only one specific position is selectively activated. Applying this protocol, the proposed carbanion intermediate was effectively trapped with different electrophiles such as deuterium (D+), tritium (T+), or carbonyl compounds compiling over 50 examples. Further, this methodology was used to install deuterium or tritium in different drug-derivatives (>10 drugs) at a selected position in a late-stage functionalization. In addition, the protocol is suitable for a gram-scale synthesis, and a detailed mechanistic investigation has been carried out to support our hypothesis.

Hydrogen isotope exchange reactions with iridium(i) catalyst [(COD)Ir(IMes)(PPh3)]X 2 with significantly increased (up to 7 fold) radiochemical yields (RCY) in tritium gas reactions are reported.

We describe a simple and easy pathway to synthesize nitrosamine MS standards in good to moderate yields. N-alkylation of Boc-protected primary or secondary amines using stable isotope labelled alkyl halides yielded the key intermediates which were deprotected, and then, the nitrosamine was formed with sodium nitrite and sodium hydrogensulfate. Special attention to safety, disposal of waste, and surface cleaning was carried throughout.

A visible light-mediated photocatalyzed C-C-bond forming method for the benzylic C-H functionalization of phenolether containing synthetic building blocks based on a radical-cation/deprotonation strategy is reported. This method allows the mild, selective generation of benzyl radicals in phenolic complex molecules and drug-like compounds, providing new entries in synthetic and medicinal chemistry.

International audience; Radiolabelling is fundamental in drug discovery and development as it is mandatory for preclinical ADME studies and late-stage human clinical trials. Herein, a general, effective, and easy to implement method for the multiple site incorporation of deuterium and tritium atoms using the commercially available and air-stable iridium precatalyst [Ir(COD)(OMe)]2 is described. A large scope of pharmaceutically relevant substructures can be labelled using this method including pyridine, pyrazine, indole, carbazole, aniline, oxa-/thia-zoles, thiophene, but also electron-rich phenyl groups. The high functional group tolerance of the reaction is highlighted by the labelling of a wide range of complex pharmaceuticals, containing notably halogen or sulfur atoms and nitrile groups. The multiple site hydrogen isotope incorporation has been explained by the in situ formation of complementary catalytically active species: monometallic iridium complexes and iridium nanoparticles.

We describe the dramatic differences in the synthesis and physiological and pharmacokinetical profiling of two sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) drug candidates AVE2268 and AVE8887 with very similar chemical structures. It is a classic example of how a radioactive study was able to spare resources in preclinical development prior to entering a costly clinical program. It also demonstrated that radioactive compounds can be used to study differences between two very similar compounds in vivo.

The isotopic labelling of small molecules is integral to drug development and for understanding biochemical processes. The preparation of carbon-labelled α-amino acids remains difficult and time consuming, with established methods involving label incorporation at an early stage of synthesis. This explains the high cost and scarcity of C-labelled products and presents a major challenge in

Human glucose transporters (GLUTs) are responsible for cellular uptake of hexoses. Elevated expression of GLUTs, particularly GLUT1 and GLUT3, is required to fuel the hyperproliferation of cancer cells, making GLUT inhibitors potential anticancer therapeutics. Meanwhile, GLUT inhibitor-conjugated insulin is being explored to mitigate the hypoglycemia side effect of insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes. Reasoning that exofacial inhibitors of GLUT1/3 may be favored for therapeutic applications, we report here the engineering of a GLUT3 variant, designated GLUT3exo, that can be probed for screening and validating exofacial inhibitors. We identify an exofacial GLUT3 inhibitor SA47 and elucidate its mode of action by a 2.3 Å resolution crystal structure of SA47-bound GLUT3. Our studies serve as a framework for the discovery of GLUTs exofacial inhibitors for therapeutic development.

a-Amino acids are among the essential chemical building blocks of life. These structures are embedded in many small molecule pharmaceuticals and are the primary components of peptide-based therapeutics and biologics. Isotopically labeled a-amino acids and their derivatives have widespread use in structural and mechanistic biochemistry, quantitative proteomics, absorption distribution metabolism and excretion (ADME) profiling, and as imaging agents in positron emission tomography (PET) techniques. The preparation of carbon-labeled a-amino acids remains difficult and time consuming, with established methods involving label incorporation at an early stage of synthesis. This explains the high cost and scarcity of C-labeled products and presents a major challenge in 11C applications (11C t1/2 = 20 min). Here we report that simple aldehydes catalyze the isotopic carboxylate exchange of native a-amino acids with *CO2 (* = 14, 13, 11). Proteinogenic a-amino acids and many non-natural variants containing diverse functional groups undergo labeling. The reaction likely proceeds via the trapping of *CO2 by imine-carboxylate intermediates to generate aminomalonates that are prone to monodecarboxylation. Tempering catalyst electrophilicity was key to preventing irreversible aldehyde consumption. The pre-generation of the imine carboxylate intermediate allows for the rapid and late-stage 11C-radiolabeling of a-amino acids in the presence of 11CO2.

The selective activation of sp3 carbon-hydrogen bonds in presence of multiple C¬-H bonds is challenging and remains of supreme importance in chemical research. Herein, we describe the activation of a C(sp3) H bond in α position to an amine via a carbanion intermediate. In the presence of several α amine sites, only one specific position is selectively activated. Applying this protocol, the proposed carbanion intermediate was effectively trapped with different electrophiles such as deuterium (D+), tritium (T+), or carbonyl compounds compiling over 50 examples. Further, this methodology was used to install deuterium or tritium in different drug derivatives (> 10 drugs) at a selected position in a late-stage functionalization. In addition, the protocol is suitable for a gram-scale synthesis and a detailed mechanistic investigation has been carried out to support our hypothesis.

An assessment of the C−H activation catalyst [(COD)Ir(IMes)(PPh3)]PF6 (COD=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) in the deuteration of phenyl rings containing different functional directing groups is divulged. Competition experiments have revealed a clear order of the directing groups in the hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) with an iridium (I) catalyst. Through DFT calculations the iridium–substrate coordination complex has been identified to be the main trigger for reactivity and selectivity in the competition situation with two or more directing groups. We postulate that the competition concept found in this HIE reaction can be used to explain regioselectivities in other transition‐metal‐catalyzed functionalization reactions of complex drug‐type molecules as long as a C−H activation mechanism is involved., Assessment of an iridium(I) catalyst for C−H activation in the deuteration of phenyl compounds substituted with different functional directing groups is disclosed. Competition experiments and DFT calculations have revealed a clear order of the directing groups in hydrogen isotope exchange reactions.

The reactivity and selectivity of iridium(I) catalysed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) reactions can be varied by using wide range of reaction temperatures. Herein, we have done a detailed comparison study with common iridium(I) catalysts (1–6) which will help us to understand and optimize the approaches of either high selectivity or maximum deuterium incorporation. We have demonstrated that the temperature window for these studied iridium(I) catalysts is surprisingly very broad. This principle was further proven in some HIE reactions on complex drug molecules.

Site‐selective incorporation of deuterium into biologically active compounds is of high interest in pharmaceutical industry. We present a mild and environmentally benign metal‐free method for the remote selective radical C−H monodeuteration of aliphatic C−H bonds in various amides with inexpensive heavy water (D2O) as the deuterium source. The method uses the easily installed N‐allylsulfonyl moiety as an N‐radical precursor that generates the remote C‐radical via site‐selective 1,5‐ or 1,6‐hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). Methyl thioglycolate, that readily exchanges its proton with D2O, serves as the radical deuteration reagent and as a chain‐carrier. The highly site‐selective monodeuteration has been applied to different types of unactivated sp 3‐C−H bonds and also to the deuteration of C−H bonds next to heteroatoms. The potential utility of this method is further demonstrated by the site‐selective incorporation of deuterium into natural product derivatives and drugs., Radical C−H Deuteration: A environmentally benign metal‐free method for remote radical C−H deuteration at various unactivated sp3‐C−H bonds including primary C−H bonds next to heteroatoms for the δ‐deuteration of primary amines, γ‐deuteration of aliphatic acids and α‐deuteration of secondary amines has been developed.

Visible light mediated late-stage functionalization is a rising field in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, allowing the fast and diversified modification of valuable, potentially therapeutic compounds such as peptides. However, there are relatively few mild methodologies for the C(sp3)-H functionalization of complex peptides. Herein, we report a visible light mediated photocatalytic protocol for the benzylic C-H modification of tyrosine and related C-H bonds. The embraced radical-cation/deprotonation strategy enables an incorporation of a wide range of valuable functional groups in high yields and chemoselectivity. The mild reaction conditions, site-selectivity and high functional group tolerance was highlighted by the functionalization of complex peptides, drugs and natural products, providing a promising synthetic platform in medicinal chemistry.

Hydrogen isotopically labelled compounds are essential diagnostic tools in drug research and development, as they provide vital information about the biological metabolism of drug candidates and their metabolites. Herein we report a photoredox-initiated hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) protocol which efficiently and selectively introduces deuterium or tritium at C(sp3 )-H bonds, utilizing heavy water (D2 O or T2 O) as the hydrogen isotope source, and a guanidine base. This protocol has been successfully applied to the incorporation of deuterium in several amino acids (lysine, glycine and proline) and small peptides. Finally, the method has been applied to tritium, because tritium-labelled peptides are essential for application in biological experiments, such as ligand-binding assays, or absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies.

The two isotopomers of teriflunomide were synthesized starting from isotopically stable-labeled stocks of [13 C]potassium cyanide and [1-13 C]ethyl bromoacetate. The two 13 C-labeled compounds 1a, b were applied in several NMR studies to study the E/Z ratio in different matrices. In a solution, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a dynamic equilibrium between E/Z-isomers (ratio of 8:92) was determined by initial 13 C-carbon NMR experiments. To get insights into the E/Z ratio of teriflunomide under in vivo conditions, advanced heteronuclear NMR (heteronuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy [HOESY]) in D2 O and mixtures of D2 O/plasma were performed. Whereas NMR experiments in mixtures of water and plasma failed owing to extreme line broadening, NMR spectra in water at pH 7.4 showed only the Z-isomer.

Radiolabelled azidophenyl analogues can make powerful photoaffinity probes for the identification of molecular targets. We describe our efforts to prepare tritiated azidophenyl analogues of the taxols cabazitaxel and docetaxel. Late-stage tritiation by isotope exchange with diiodo precursors resulted in reduction of the azide moiety, which could only be overcome by addition of high excess of a sacrificial azide. Iodine-deuterium exchange experiments on a model system established that deiodination with concomitant azide reduction is a general problem when performing such isotope-exchange reactions on azide-containing aryl iodides.

The primary aim of this study was to determine cabazitaxel’s affinity for the ABCB1/P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter compared to first-generation taxanes. We determined the kinetics of drug accumulation and retention using [14C]-labeled taxanes in multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells. In addition, membrane-enriched fractions isolated from doxorubicin-selected MES-SA/Dx5 cells were used to determine sodium orthovanadate-sensitive ATPase stimulation after exposure to taxanes. Custom [3H]-azido-taxane analogues were synthesized for the photoaffinity labeling of P-gp. The maximum intracellular drug concentration was achieved faster with [14C]-cabazitaxel (5 min) than [14C]-docetaxel (15–30 min). MDR cells accumulated twice as much cabazitaxel than docetaxel, and these levels could be restored to parental levels in the presence of the P-gp inhibitor PSC-833 (valspodar). Efflux in drug-free medium confirmed that MDR cells retained twice as much cabazitaxel than docetaxel. There was a strong association (r2 = 0.91) between the degree of taxane resistance conferred by P-gp expression and the accumulation differences observed with the two taxanes. One cell model expressing low levels of P-gp was not cross-resistant to cabazitaxel while demonstrating modest resistance to docetaxel. Furthermore, there was a 1.9 × reduction in sodium orthovanadate-sensitive ATPase stimulation resulting from treatment with cabazitaxel compared to docetaxel. We calculated a dissociation constant (Kd) value of 1.7 µM for [3H]-azido-docetaxel and ~ 7.5 µM for [3H]-azido-cabazitaxel resulting in a 4.4 × difference in P-gp labeling, and cold docetaxel was a more effective competitor than cabazitaxel. Our studies confirm that cabazitaxel is more active in ABCB1(+) cell models due to its reduced affinity for P-gp compared to docetaxel.

We have developed a novel and efficient iridium-catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange reaction method with secondary and tertiary sulfonamides at ambient temperatures. Furthermore N-oxides and phosphonamides have been successfully applied in hydrogen isotope exchange reactions with moderate to excellent deuterium introduction.

The varied applications of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium, D, and tritium, T) in the physical and life sciences demands a range of methods for their installation in an array of molecular architectures. In this review, we describe recent advances in synthetic C–H functionalization for hydrogen isotope exchange.

Hydrogen isotopes are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. Hydrogen isotope labelling allows for the traceless and direct incorporation of an additional mass or radioactive tag into an organic molecule with almost no changes in its chemical structure, physical properties, or biological activity. Using deuterium-labelled isotopologues to study the unique mass-spectrometric patterns generated from mixtures of biologically relevant molecules drastically simplifies analysis. Such methods are now providing unprecedented levels of insight in a wide and continuously growing range of applications in the life sciences and beyond. Tritium (3 H), in particular, has seen an increase in utilization, especially in pharmaceutical drug discovery. The efforts and costs associated with the synthesis of labelled compounds are more than compensated for by the enhanced molecular sensitivity during analysis and the high reliability of the data obtained. In this Review, advances in the application of hydrogen isotopes in the life sciences are described.

The wide range of applications involving hydrogen isotopes in drug discovery and beyond dictates that their selective and efficient installation continues to present an important and continuing challenge to synthetic chemists. In this review advances in the field of hydrogen isotope exchange over the last ten years and related hydrogen isotope applications in a broad spectrum of disciplinary areas are brought together.

For the first time we report the optimized hydrogen-isotope exchange (HIE) conditions for the selective aromatic deuteriation of various sulfonylureas and tertiary sulfonamides, as well as for a broad range of secondary sulfonamides. Based on a comprehensive screening of readily available Ir catalysts, the Kerr-type NHC catalyst 5 proved to be most efficient in the HIE reaction of secondary sulfonamides and sulfonylureas. However, for tertiary sulfonamides, the commercially available Burgess catalyst 6, not yet utilized in HIE reactions, resulted in a much higher incorporation of deuterium. Finally, we tested the new HIE protocol for the labelling of a series of sulfa drugs and adapted the conditions to allow for selective tritium labelling.

For the first time, we describe highly selective homogeneous iridium‐catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of unactivated C(sp3) centers in aliphatic amides. When using the commercially available Kerr catalyst, the HIE with a series of common antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) linker side chains proceeds with high yields, high regioselectivity, and with deuterium incorporation up to 99 %. The method is fully translatable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labelling of a maytansinoid. The scope of the method can be extended to simple amino acids, with high HIE activity observed for glycine and alanine. In di‐ and tripeptides, a very interesting protecting‐group‐dependent tunable selectivity was observed. DFT calculations gave insight into the energies of the transition states, thereby explaining the observed selectivity and the influence of the amino acid protecting groups.

For the first time, we describe a catalytic protocol for highly selective hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of phenylacetic acid amides and esters under very mild reaction conditions. Using a homogeneous iridium catalyst supported by a bidentate phosphine-imidazolin-imine P,N ligand, the HIE reaction on a series of phenylacetic derivatives proceeds with high yields, high selectivity and with deuterium incorporation up to 99%. The method is fully adaptable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry, and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labelling of the fungicide benalaxyl and the drug camylofine. Further insights into the mechanism of the HIE reaction with catalyst 1 have been provided utilizing DFT calculation, NMR-studies and X-ray diffraction analysis.

An assessment of the CH activation catalyst[(COD)Ir(IMes)(PPh3)]PF6(COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene,IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) inthe deuteration of phenyl rings containing different functionaldirecting groups is divulged. Competition experiments haverevealed a clear order of the directing groups in the hydrogenisotope exchange (HIE) with an iridium (I) catalyst. ThroughDFT calculations the iridium–substrate coordination complexhas been identified to be the main trigger for reactivity andselectivity in the competition situation with two or moredirecting groups. We postulate that the competition conceptfound in this HIE reaction can be used to explain regioselec-tivities in other transition-metal-catalyzed functionalizationreactions of complex drug-type molecules as long as a CHactivation mechanism is involved.

This review summarizes the highlights of aliphatic C(sp3)-H carbon hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) methods developed in the last ten years. In particular, new highly selective and reactive protocols in the areas of nanoparticle and metal catalyzed homogeneous catalysis are reported.

For fasiglifam (TAK875) and its metabolites the substance-specific mechanisms of liver toxicity were studied. Metabolism studies were run to identify a putatively reactive acyl glucuronide metabolite. In vitro cytotoxicity and caspase 3/7 activation were assessed in primary human and dog hepatocytes in 2D and 3D cell culture. Involvement of glutathione (GSH) detoxication system in mediating cytotoxicity was determined by assessing potentiation of cytotoxicity in a GSH depleted in vitro system. In addition, potential mitochondrial liabilities of the compounds were assessed in a whole-cell mitochondrial functional assay. Fasiglifam showed moderate cytotoxicity in human primary hepatocytes in the classical 2D cytotoxicity assays and also in the complex 3D human liver microtissue (hLiMT) after short-term treatment (24 hours or 48 hours) with TC50 values of 56 to 68 µM (adenosine triphosphate endpoint). The long-term treatment for 14 days in the hLiMT resulted in a slight TC50 shift over time of 2.7/3.6 fold lower vs 24-hour treatment indicating possibly a higher risk for cytotoxicity during long-term treatment. Cellular GSH depletion and impairment of mitochondrial function by TAK875 and its metabolites evaluated by Seahorse assay could not be found being involved in DILI reported for TAK875. The acyl glucuronide metabolites of TAK875 have been finally identified to be the dominant reason for liver toxicity.

This review summarizes the highlights of aliphatic C (sp

Phenylene-bridged hybrid phosphine-imidazolin-2-imine RP,NR′ ligands (R=Ph, Cy, i-Pr, t-Bu; R′=Me, i-Pr) were prepared from 1,2-dibromobenzene by palladium-catalyzed C–N coupling with 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-imine or 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazolin-2-imine, followed by lithiation with tert-butyllithium and reaction with the chlorophosphines (R2PCl). Their reaction with the dimeric iridium complex [Ir(cod)Cl]2 (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and subsequent anion exchange with sodium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (NaBArF24) or potassium hexafluorophosphate (KPF6) afforded iridium complexes of the type [(RP,NR′)Ir(cod)]BArF24 or [(RP,NR′)Ir(cod)]PF6, respectively. The latter PF6 salts were structurally characterized, revealing short Ir—N bonds as an indication of electron-rich nitrogen donor atoms. The former complexes were tested for their applicability in catalytic H/D exchange. In particular, the complex with the ligand t-BuP,NMe showed remarkable performance in H/D exchange with a broad range of aromatic substrates, including ketones, amides, esters, heterocycles and nitro compounds, and also promoted H/D exchange at aromatic Boc-protected amines, benzylamines and methoxy derivatives.

Chemoselective functionalization of peptides and proteins to selectively introduce residues for detection, capture, or specific derivatization is of high interest to the synthetic community. Here we report a new method for the mild and effective mono-iodination of tyrosine residues in fully unprotected peptides. This method is highly chemoselective and compatible with a wide variety of functional groups. The introduced iodine can subsequently serve as a handle for further functionalization such as introduction of fluorescent dyes and thus be used for chemoselective labeling of isolated peptides.

Diabetes affects an increasing number of patients worldwide and is responsible for a significant rise in healthcare expenses. Imaging of β-cells in vivo is expected to contribute to an improved understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, improved diagnosis, and development of new treatment options for diabetes. Here, we describe the first radiosyntheses of [3 H]-TAK875 and [18 F]-TAK875 derivatives to be used as β-cell imaging probes addressing the free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1/GPR40). The fluorine-labeled derivative showed similar agonistic activity as TAK875 in a functional assay. The radiosynthesis of the 18 F-labelled tracer 2a was achieved with 16.7 ± 5.7% radiochemical yield in a total synthesis time of 60-70 min.

Replacing hydrogen with deuterium as a means of altering ADME properties of drug molecules has recently enjoyed a renaissance, such that at least two deuterated chemical entities are currently in clinical development. Although most research in this area aims to increase the metabolic stability, and hence half-life of the active species, experience has shown that prediction of the in vivo behaviour of deuterated molecules is difficult and depends on multiple factors including the complexity of the metabolic scheme, the enzymes involved and hence the mechanism of the rate-determining step in the biotransformation. In an effort to elucidate some of these factors we examined the metabolic behaviour of two molecules from the Sanofi portfolio in a range of in vitro and in vivo systems. Although some key metabolic reactions of the acetylcholine release stimulator HP184 4 were slowed in vitro and in vivo when deuterium was present at the sites of metabolism, this did not translate to an increase in overall metabolic stability. By contrast, the tryptase inhibitor AVE5638 13 was much more metabolically stable in vitro in its deuterated form than when unlabelled. These results indicate that it could be of value to concentrate efforts in this area to molecules which are metabolised by a major pathway that involves enzymes of the amine oxidase family or other low-capacity enzyme families.

An assessment of emerging C–H activation catalysts of the type [(COD)Ir(IMes)(PR3)]PF6 in the deuteration of N-heterocycles is divulged. Substrate scope, competition experiments and labelling of drug type molecules have revealed PR3 PPh3 provides a broadly more applicable and widely effective catalyst system compared to other available complexes in the present series.

In this review, newly developed cyanation methods are evaluated in regards to their usefulness in synthetic isotope chemistry. In combination with already established protocols in 13/14 C- or 11 C-isotope chemistry, this manuscript should help isotope scientists to choose the best possible method for their scientific cyanation problem, but with the main focus on 14 C-applications. Perhaps, most promising of the described novel cyanation reaction is the decarboxylation-cyanation-hydrolysis approach which makes a 1-step late-stage functionalization procedure possible.

Radiolabelled azidophenyl analogues can make powerful photoaffinity probes for the identification of molecular targets. We describe our efforts to prepare tritiated azidophenyl analogues of the taxols cabazitaxel and docetaxel. Late-stage tritiation by isotope exchange with diiodo precursors resulted in reduction of the azide moiety, which could only be overcome by addition of high excess of a sacrificial azide. Iodine-deuterium exchange experiments on a model system established that deiodination with concomitant azide reduction is a general problem when performing such isotope-exchange reactions on azide-containing aryl iodides.

For the first time, we describe highly selective homogeneous iridium‐catalyzed hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) of unactivated C(sp3) centers in aliphatic amides. When using the commercially available Kerr catalyst, the HIE with a series of common antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) linker side chains proceeds with high yields, high regioselectivity, and with deuterium incorporation up to 99 %. The method is fully translatable to the specific requirements of tritium chemistry and its effectiveness was demonstrated by direct tritium labelling of a maytansinoid. The scope of the method can be extended to simple amino acids, with high HIE activity observed for glycine and alanine. In di‐ and tripeptides, a very interesting protecting‐group‐dependent tunable selectivity was observed. DFT calculations gave insight into the energies of the transition states, thereby explaining the observed selectivity and the influence of the amino acid protecting groups.

A single high-affinity fatty acid binding site in the important human transport protein serum albumin (HSA) is identified and characterized using an NBD (7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-C12 fatty acid. This ligand exhibits a 1:1 binding stoichiometry in its HSA complex with high site-specificity. The complex dissociation constant is determined by titration experiments as well as radioactive equilibrium dialysis. Competition experiments with the known HSA-binding drugs warfarin and ibuprofen confirm the new binding site to be different from Sudlow-sites I and II. These binding studies are extended to other albumin binders and fatty acid derivatives. Furthermore an X-ray crystal structure allows locating the binding site in HSA subdomain IIA. The knowledge about this novel HSA site will be important for drug depot development and for understanding drug-protein interaction, which are important prerequisites for modulation of drug pharmacokinetics.