Synthesis of tritium labelled verrucarol and verrucarin a

Two tritium labelled trichothecenes, verrucarol (2) and verrucarin A (5) were synthesized with high specific activity. Oxidation of verrucarol (1) to the 15‐dehydroverrucarol (3) followed by sodium borotritide reduction yielded [15‐³H]‐verrucarol (2). Reduction of 16‐mesyloxyverrucarin A (7) in a special buffer‐organic solvent system with a phase transfer catalyst, produced [16‐³H]‐verrucarin A (5). Final purification of the radioactive products was achieved by preparative thin layer chromatography. Their structures were assigned based on the analytical data of the corresponding nonradiolabelled compounds obtained from the nonradioactive preparations.