Synthesis of (S)‐cyano(3‐phenoxyphenyl)methyl (1R,3R)‐ 3‐[(1Z)‐2‐chloro‐3,3,3‐trifluoro‐1‐propenyl]‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate‐1‐14C

γ‐Cyhalothrin ( 1a ), (S)‐cyano(3‐phenoxyphenyl)methyl (1R,3R)‐3‐(1Z)‐2‐chloro‐3,3,3‐trifluoro‐1‐propenyl]‐2,2‐dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate, is a single‐isomer, synthetic pyrethroid insecticide marketed by Pytech Chemicals GmbH, a joint venture between Dow AgroSciences and Cheminova A/S. As a part of the registration process there was a need to incorporate a carbon‐14 label into the cyclopropyl ring of this molecule. A high yielding radiochemical synthesis of γ‐cyhalothrin was developed from readily available carbon‐14 labeled N‐t‐Boc protected glycine. This seven step synthesis, followed by a preparative normal phase HPLC separation of diastereomers, provided 21.8 mCi of γ‐cyhalothrin‐1‐¹⁴C ( 1b ) with >98% radiochemical purity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.