Treatment of Li3H with ZrCp2Cl2 in THF affords ZrCp2Cl3H. By the actio
n of ZrCp2Cl3H on an acetylene, it is possible to stereo- and regiosel
ectively introduce tritium into the vinylic position, a site which has
often proved to be metabolically stable in complex molecules. In addi
tion, ZrCp2Cl3H may be used to regioselectively label olefins with tri
tium.