Compounds containing deuterium (D = ²H) are useful for kinetic studies and metabolic studies with new pharmaceuticals. One way to introduce deuterium is by using the reagent LiAlD₄, equivalent in reactivity to LiAlH₄. Show how to make these deuterium-labeled compounds, using LiAlD₄ and D₂O as your sources of deuterium, and any non-deuterated starting materials you wish.
(c) CH₃CD₂OD

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. The goal is to synthesize CH3CD2OD, a deuterium-labeled compound, using LiAlD4 and D2O as sources of deuterium. LiAlD4 is a reducing agent that introduces deuterium (D) in place of hydrogen (H). D2O is heavy water, which can also provide deuterium atoms.
2. Step 2: Select a suitable non-deuterated starting material. For this synthesis, CH3CHO (acetaldehyde) is a good choice because it contains a carbonyl group that can be reduced by LiAlD4.
3. Step 3: Perform the reduction of CH3CHO using LiAlD4. The hydride-like deuterium from LiAlD4 will reduce the carbonyl group to form CH3CD2OH. This step involves nucleophilic attack of the deuterium on the carbonyl carbon, followed by protonation.
4. Step 4: Exchange the hydroxyl hydrogen in CH3CD2OH with deuterium using D2O. This can be achieved by treating CH3CD2OH with D2O under acidic or basic conditions, allowing the hydroxyl hydrogen to be replaced by deuterium, forming CH3CD2OD.
5. Step 5: Verify the structure of the final product, CH3CD2OD, ensuring that the deuterium atoms are correctly incorporated at the desired positions. This can be confirmed using spectroscopic techniques such as NMR or IR.

Key Concepts

Deuterium and Its Applications

Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen, represented as D or 2H, containing one proton and one neutron. Its unique properties make it valuable in kinetic and metabolic studies, particularly in pharmaceuticals, as it can help trace reaction pathways and metabolic processes without altering the chemical behavior of the compounds.

Lithium Aluminum Deuteride (LiAlD4)

LiAlD4 is a powerful reducing agent similar to LiAlH4 but contains deuterium instead of hydrogen. It is used to introduce deuterium into organic compounds through reduction reactions, allowing for the synthesis of deuterated compounds, which are essential for studying reaction mechanisms and dynamics in organic chemistry.

Deuterated Alcohol Synthesis

The synthesis of deuterated alcohols, such as CH3CD2OD, involves the reaction of non-deuterated starting materials with deuterium sources like LiAlD4 and D2O. This process typically includes reduction steps where the deuterium replaces hydrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of deuterated products that can be used in various analytical and experimental applications.