Die absolute Konfiguration von 1-2H1-Äthanol

(S)-l-²H₁-Ethanol (6) has been prepared in three steps from (–)-erythro-(2R,3S)-3-²H₁-butan-2-ol (2) , itself available from cis-butene by asymmetric hydroboration. In enzymatic tests with yeast alcohol dehydrogenase this deuterated ethanol proved to be indistinguishable from the laevorotatory isomer. This establishes the (S)-chirality of the latter and at the same time defines the stereospecificity of the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.