Heterogeneous catalytic deuteration using D₂O and advances in the application of deuterium labelling

Deuterium labelling has been a vital tool in chemical, pharmaceutical, and biological research for many years. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in its applications in emerging fields such as deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) and luminescent material development. The demand for deuteration of organic compounds has increased significantly, resulting in the development of various heterogeneous catalytic deuteration methodologies, including nanocatalysis and electrocatalysis, over the past five years. Notably, many of these deuteration reactions utilize relatively inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and safe D₂O, which enhances operational convenience. This review aims to summarize recent advancements in heterogeneous catalytic deuteration using D₂O and to highlight innovative applications of deuterium labelling, including deuterium metabolic imaging, deuterated luminescent materials, and quantitative mass spectrometry.