Preparation and Use of Tritiated Schwartz' Reagent (ZrCp2Cl3H)

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