The First Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of [α-2H]Phenylacetic Acid in High Enantiomeric Excess.

Arylmalonate decarboxylase (EC. 4. 1. 1. 76) catalysed decarboxylation followed by enantioface-differentiating protonation of [α-2H]- and [α-1H]phenylmalonic acid in 1H2O and 2H2O respectively, gave highly enantiomerically enriched (R)- and (S)-[α-2H]phenylacetic acid in quantitative yields.