In this study, we present a superacid catalyzed protocol of α-deuteration of ketones with D2O using [Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ as a pre-catalyst to generate in situ the superacidic species [D]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻. The features of this catalytic process include the simple manipulation, high deuterated efficiency (up to 99%), excellent functional group compatibility and broad substrate scope, 30 substrates including the abundant building blocks and bioactive molecules like pentoxifylline. Moreover, the avoiding use of toxic reagents enables sustainable access to deuterated products, demonstrating the practical potential of applications in mechanistic studies and pharmaceutical applications.

This article is Open Access

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