Methods to generate analogs of coenzyme A in vitro and in vivo are disclosed. The methods comprise reacting pantetheine or a derivative thereof with a reporter to form labeled pantetheine or a derivative thereof, phosphorylating the labeled pantetheine or derivative thereof to form phosphopantetheine or a derivative thereof, adenylating the labeled phosphopantetheine or derivative thereof to form a labeled dephosphoCoenzyme A or derivative thereof, and phosphorylating the 3′-hydrozyl of the labeled dephosphoCoenzume A or derivative thereof to form a labeled coenzyme A analog or derivative thereof.