[12-H-3]-(+/-)-Calanolide A (9) was synthesized in five steps from rea
dily available phloroglucinol (1). Stereoselective Luche reduction of
transketone 8 with cerium(III) chloride and sodium borotritide in meth
anol gave 338 mu Ci of 9 with a specific activity of 63.0 mCi/mmol.