A selective and cost-effective method for the reductive deuteration of activated alkenes

A new single electron transfer reaction for the reductive deuteration of activated alkenes has been developed for the selective synthesis of α,β-dideuterio compounds. A cheap, stable and commercially-available sodium dispersion with high specific surface area is employed as the electron donor to replace the traditionally used sodium/liquid ammonium system. Deuterium source is provided by EtOD-d₁. Excellent yields and deuterium incorporations were obtained across a broad range of activated alkenes with good functional group tolerance. This method provided a cheap, efficient and operationally-simple method for the synthesis of deuterium labeled compounds.