Silver-catalyzed regioselective deuteration of (hetero)arenes and α-deuteration of 2-alkyl azaarenes.

A simple silver-catalyzed regioselective deuteration of (hetero)arenes and α-deuteration of 2-alkyl azaarenes has been described. This strategy provides an efficient and practical avenue to access various deuterated electron-rich arenes, azaarenes and α-deuterated 2-alkyl azaarenes with good to excellent deuterium incorporation utilizing D 2 O as the source of deuterium atoms.