Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O
Abstract Deuterium labeling is increasingly important across scientific fields, from drug development to materials engineering, but current methods often require expensive catalysts. Here we demonstrate a simple, photocatalyst-free approach for incorporating deuterium into organic molecules using vi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61641-0 |
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| author | Ying Meng Bei Shu Jing Zhang Heng Rao Ziyuan Zhou Zhiyuan Wang Zhongyi Liu Kangdong Liu Yueteng Zhang Wei Wang |
| author_facet | Ying Meng Bei Shu Jing Zhang Heng Rao Ziyuan Zhou Zhiyuan Wang Zhongyi Liu Kangdong Liu Yueteng Zhang Wei Wang |
| author_sort | Ying Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Deuterium labeling is increasingly important across scientific fields, from drug development to materials engineering, but current methods often require expensive catalysts. Here we demonstrate a simple, photocatalyst-free approach for incorporating deuterium into organic molecules using visible light. By employing common thiol compounds under mild blue-light irradiation (380–420 nm), we successfully modify two key chemical groups (formyl and α-amino) with high efficiency (up to 96% deuterium incorporation). This method eliminates the need for specialized PCs, significantly reducing costs and complexity. Surprisingly, we find that the system generates reactive intermediates (thiyl radicals and hydrogen atoms) through previously unrecognized light-activated pathways. These discoveries challenge conventional assumptions about photochemical deuteration and offer practical advantages for both laboratory research and industrial-scale production. Our results provide a more sustainable and scalable route to deuterated compounds while opening possibilities for light-driven chemistry without expensive catalysts. This work advances isotope labeling technology and suggests broader applications for simple, light-powered reactions in chemical synthesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8fe7abdc76f41f3b4809bc9419c17e9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8fe7abdc76f41f3b4809bc9419c17e92025-08-20T03:43:11ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-61641-0Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2OYing Meng0Bei Shu1Jing Zhang2Heng Rao3Ziyuan Zhou4Zhiyuan Wang5Zhongyi Liu6Kangdong Liu7Yueteng Zhang8Wei Wang9State Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin UniversityNational Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeState Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityCollege of Chemistry, Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Metabolic dysregulation & the Prevention and Treatment of Esophageal Cancer; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of ArizonaAbstract Deuterium labeling is increasingly important across scientific fields, from drug development to materials engineering, but current methods often require expensive catalysts. Here we demonstrate a simple, photocatalyst-free approach for incorporating deuterium into organic molecules using visible light. By employing common thiol compounds under mild blue-light irradiation (380–420 nm), we successfully modify two key chemical groups (formyl and α-amino) with high efficiency (up to 96% deuterium incorporation). This method eliminates the need for specialized PCs, significantly reducing costs and complexity. Surprisingly, we find that the system generates reactive intermediates (thiyl radicals and hydrogen atoms) through previously unrecognized light-activated pathways. These discoveries challenge conventional assumptions about photochemical deuteration and offer practical advantages for both laboratory research and industrial-scale production. Our results provide a more sustainable and scalable route to deuterated compounds while opening possibilities for light-driven chemistry without expensive catalysts. This work advances isotope labeling technology and suggests broader applications for simple, light-powered reactions in chemical synthesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61641-0 |
| spellingShingle | Ying Meng Bei Shu Jing Zhang Heng Rao Ziyuan Zhou Zhiyuan Wang Zhongyi Liu Kangdong Liu Yueteng Zhang Wei Wang Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O Nature Communications |
| title | Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O |
| title_full | Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O |
| title_fullStr | Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O |
| title_short | Photocatalyst-free photochemical deuteration via H/D exchange with D2O |
| title_sort | photocatalyst free photochemical deuteration via h d exchange with d2o |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61641-0 |
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