A modified Bouveault-Blanc reduction has been developed for the synthesis of α,α-dideuterio alcohols from carboxylic acid esters. Sodium dispersions are used as the electron donor in this electron transfer reaction, and ethanol-d is employed as the deuterium source. This reaction uses stable, cheap, and commercially available reagents, is operationally simple, and results in excellent deuterium incorporation across a broad range of aliphatic esters, which provides an attractive alternative to reactions mediated by expensive pyrophoric alkali metal deuterides.
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