Abstract [14 C] Atorvastatin was synthesized in a ten-step sequence with an overall yield of 5.7%. The label was introduced as sodium [1-14 C] acetate, which was converted via the acid chloride to the (S)-2-hydroxy-1, 2, 2-triphenylethyl ester 4. Chiral condensation of 4 with aldehyde 5 gave the chiral ester intermediate 6 with a yield of about 70%. Following transesterification of 6 to a methyl ester and condensation with tert-butyl lithioacetate to ...