Isotopically labelled tropane alkaloids. The synthesis of (RS)‐[3′, 3′‐2H2]‐ and (RS)‐[1′‐13C, 3′, 3′‐2H2]‐ hyoscyamines for metabolism studies in plants

A synthetic route to isotopically labelled forms of the tropane alkaloid hyoscyamine, including (RS)‐3′, 3′,‐²H₂]‐ ( 2a ) and (RS)‐1′‐¹³C, 3′, 3′,‐²H₂]‐ ( 2b ) hyoscyamines, involving the reaction between phenylacetyl tropine and formaldehyde is described. The isotopically labelled products enable the metabolism of hyoscyamine to be studied in plants such as Datura stramonium. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.