Potassium <i>tert</i>-butoxide promoted regioselective deuteration of pyridines

Abstract

A regioselective deuteration at the β- and γ-position of pyridines is reported. Efficient deuteration occurred with a combination of KO^<i>t</i>Bu and DMSO-<i>d</i>₆, replenishing the prevailing α-deuteration of the pyridine systems. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the dimsyl carbanion acts as one of the key intermediates.