Synthesis of stable isotope‐labeled nasturlexins and potential precursors to probe biosynthetic pathways of cruciferous phytoalexins

The syntheses of perdeuterated phytoalexins nasturlexins A and C, and putative biosynthetic precursors, including phenylethyl isothiocyanates and phenylethyl dithiocarbamates, using commercially available [2,3,4,5,6‐D 5 ]phenylalanine, [2,3,4,5,6‐D 5 ]nitrobenzene, and [2,3,4,5,6‐D 5 ]benzaldehyde are described. In addition, application of an efficient deuterium‐hydrogen exchange transformation to nonlabeled starting materials allowed access to new deuterated compounds, including 3‐hydroxyphenylethyl glucosinolate.