The Deuterated "Magic Methyl" Group: A Guide to Site-Selective Trideuteromethyl Incorporation and Labeling by Using...

In the field of medicinal chemistry, the precise installation of a trideuteromethyl group is gaining ever-increasing attention. Site-selective incorporation of the deuterated "magic methyl" group can provide profound pharmacological benefits and can be considered an important tool for drug optimization and development. This review provides a structured overview, according to trideuteromethylation reagent, of currently established methods for site-selective trideuteromethylation of carbon atoms. In addition to CD₃ , the selective introduction of CD₂ H and CDH₂ groups is also considered. For all methods, the corresponding mechanism and scope are discussed whenever reported. As such, this review can be a starting point for synthetic chemists to further advance trideuteromethylation methodologies. At the same time, this review aims to be a guide for medicinal chemists, offering them the available C-CD₃ formation strategies for the preparation of new or modified drugs.