Present address : Unite d e s Agents Antibacteriens, CNRS U.A. 2 7 1 , I n s t i t u t Pasteur, 75724 Paris Cddex 15 (France). SmaUILI Rhodium-DiPAHP complex c a t a l y z e s the s t e r e o s e l e c t i v e a d d i t i o n of two tritium atoms on N-acetyl -a-B dehydrotryptophanamide. The s u b s t r a t e was prepared by dehydrogenation of N-acetyltryptophanamide with TSO (Tryptophan-Side Chain oxidase) from Pseudomonas. T r i t i a t e d N-acetyl-tryptophanamide was obtained with the t h e o r e t i c a l s p e c i f i c r a d i o a c t i v i t y ( 5 8 Ci/mmole). The enantiomeric exc e s s of the L-diasteroisomer reached 9 4 . 4 %. 3H NHR s p e c t r a indicated the select i v i t y of 3H-labelling on the C,-Cg double bond. This new approach of t r i t i a t i o n by homogeneous c a t a l y s i s applied to tryptophanyl-containing peptides is discussed.Key words : asymmetrict r i t i a t i o ntryptophandehydrogenase -TSO.