Superacid-catalysed α-deuteration of ketones with D₂O

In this study, we present a superacid catalyzed protocol for the 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 simple manipulation, high deuteration efficiency (up to 99%), excellent functional group compatibility and a broad substrate scope, including 30 substrates comprising common building blocks and bioactive molecules like pentoxifylline. Moreover, the avoidance of toxic reagents enables sustainable access to deuterated products, demonstrating the method's practical potential for use in mechanistic studies and pharmaceutical applications.