Short and convenient synthesis of triethoxy‐[ 2 H]methane and ethoxy‐[ 2 H]methylene malononitrile

Triethoxy‐deuteriomethane is synthesized simply from deuterio‐chloroform and monodeuterio‐ethanol. The previously not described ethoxy‐[ 2 H]methylene malononitrile can be prepared from the deuterated orthoester and dideuterio‐malononitrile. Ring closure with acetamidine in ethanol yields 4‐amino‐5‐cyano‐2‐methyl‐[6‐ 2 H]pyrimidine without any loss of deuterium label.