Highly selective deuteration of pharmaceutically relevant nitrogen-containing heterocycles: a flow chemistry approach

Mol Divers. 2011 Aug;15(3):605-11. doi: 10.1007/s11030-010-9276-z. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Abstract

A simple and efficient flow-based technique is reported for the catalytic deuteration of several model nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds which are important building blocks of pharmacologically active materials. A continuous flow reactor was used in combination with on-demand pressure-controlled electrolytic D(2) production. The D(2) source was D(2)O, the consumption of which was very low. The experimental set-up allows the fine-tuning of pressure, temperature, and flow rate so as to determine the optimal conditions for the deuteration reactions. The described procedure lacks most of the drawbacks of the conventional batch deuteration techniques, and additionally is highly selective and reproducible.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry / instrumentation
  • Chemistry / methods*
  • Deuterium / chemistry*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Nitrogen Compounds / chemistry
  • Technology, Pharmaceutical / methods*

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Deuterium