Key Words : emodin, NADPH dependent reductase, chrysophanol ... S umnm r y . Emodin, a precursor of chrysophanol in the biosynthesis of cynodontin by Pyrenochaefa rerrestris, has been tritiated with a high specific radioactivity (12.5 Ci/mmol) by hydrogenolysis of bromomethyl emodin. ... Introduction. An important step of the biosynthesis of cynodontin 1 (1) by Pyrenochaefa ferresfris is the transformation of emodin 2 into chrysophanol 3 (2) (Scheme 1). The ...