Controlled synthesis of CD2H-ketones

The synthesis of compounds containing partially deuterated groups such as CD2H lacks general methods. These compounds could be important for fine control of metabolic processes in drug discovery, or in the development of multifunctional probes for analysis by complementary spectroscopic techniques. Here, a convenient route to CD2H-methyl ketones is reported through coupling of esters with bis[(pinacolato)boryl]methane and trapping with D2O.