Selective oxidation of alcohol-d1 to aldehyde-d1 using MnO2

The selective oxidation of alcohol-d1 to prepare aldehyde-d1 was newly developed by means of NaBD4 reduction/activated MnO2 oxidation. Various aldehyde-d1 derivatives including aromatic and unsaturated aldehyde-d1 can be prepared with a high deuterium incorporation ratio (up to 98% D). Halogens (chloride, bromide, and iodide), alkene, alkyne, ester, nitro, and cyano groups in the substrates are tolerated under the mild conditions.