B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Regioselective Deuteration of Electron-Rich Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Compounds

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b02701
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20T14:03:13Z
• Authors: Wu Li; Ming-Ming Wang; Yuya Hu; Thomas Werner
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Deuterium labeled compounds find widespread application in life science. Herein, the deuteration of electron-rich (hetero)aromatic employing B(C6F5)3 as catalyst and D2O deuterium source is reported. This protocol highly efficient, simply manipulated, successfully applied 23 substrates including natural neurotransmitter-like melatonin. It assumed that weakening O–D bond ultimately results formation electrophilic D+.