Open AccessDeuterium labelling by electrochemical splitting of heavy water
Author(s) -
Jia Liu,
Zhongxin Chen,
Ming Joo Koh,
Kian Ping Loh
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2770-5900
DOI - 10.20517/energymater.2021.19
Subject(s) - deuterium , electrochemistry , kinetic isotope effect , heavy water , chemistry , hydrogen–deuterium exchange , labelling , combinatorial chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , nuclear physics , physics , electrode , biochemistry
Deuterium incorporation is crucial in organic synthesis and has wide applications in the pharmaceutical industry. State-of-the-art H/D isotope exchange and chemical defunctionalization for deuterium incorporation suffer from significant drawbacks, including expensive deuterium sources, low deuteration efficiency and poor selectivity. In this perspective, we highlight an alternative pathway for forming C-D bonds by electrocatalytic heavy water splitting (D2O) under mild conditions. In addition, the intrinsic mechanism and examples of the synthesis of deuterated pharmaceuticals are discussed in detail. Finally, we present the challenges facing this field and provide an overall perspective on future research directions.