Multiple deuteration of alkanes synergistically-catalyzed by platinum and rhodium on carbon as a mixed catalytic system

We have accomplished an efficient and mild multiple deuteration method for alkanes catalyzed by the combined use of heterogeneous platinum on carbon (Pt/C) and rhodium on carbon (Rh/C) catalysts in i-PrOD-d8 and D2O as a mixed solvent. The present multi-deuteration could be initiated by the transition metal-catalyzed dedeuteration of i-PrOD-d8 to produce D2 and the subsequent C–H bond activation of alkanes catalyzed by the Pt/C and/or Rh/C–D2 complex. This method could be applied to the deuteration of wide variety of linear, branched and cyclic alkanes as useful deuterated materials under mild conditions.