Efficient synthesis of deuterium- and tritium-labeled D-Er ythro-sphingosine

Deuterium- and tritium-labeled D-eryrhro-sphingosine (1b and 1c) were prepa red by an efficient approach based on a known stereoselective total synthes is. Tritium was introduced at C-1 by [H-3]NaBH4 reduction in the final synt hetic step to give 1c of high radiochemical purity. 1,1,3-Trideuterio-D-ery thro-sphingosine (1b) was prepared similarly and showed >99.5% enantiomeric purity and a high level of deuterium incorporation.