Synthesis of tritium labelled 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol, a useful substrate for the elucidation of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway for isoprenoid biosynthesis

Free 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol is utilised for isoprenoid biosynthesis by Esc herichia coli mutants lacking the two first enzymes of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, the deoxyxylulose phosphate synthase and isomero-reduct ase. For feeding experiments, this tetrol was synthesised with an overall 4 3% yield from readily available 1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-xylofuranose, including the possibility of tritium labelling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science L td. All rights reserved.