Synthesis of deuterated acids and bases using bipolar membranes

Junying Yan, Chenxiao Jiang, Xiongzhi Zeng, Wanjie Song, Jie Yang, Xiaolin Ge, Liang Wu, Zhengjin Yang, Zhenyu Li (), Yaoming Wang () and Tongwen Xu ()
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Junying Yan: University of Science and Technology of China
Chenxiao Jiang: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiongzhi Zeng: University of Science and Technology of China
Wanjie Song: University of Science and Technology of China
Jie Yang: University of Science and Technology of China
Xiaolin Ge: University of Science and Technology of China
Liang Wu: University of Science and Technology of China
Zhengjin Yang: University of Science and Technology of China
Zhenyu Li: University of Science and Technology of China
Yaoming Wang: University of Science and Technology of China
Tongwen Xu: University of Science and Technology of China

Nature, 2025, vol. 643, issue 8073, 961-966

Abstract: Abstract Deuterated acids/bases are high-value bulk chemicals used for synthesizing deuterated pharmaceuticals1,2, modifying optoelectronic materials3 and mediating hydrogen isotope exchange reactions4,5. However, conventional synthesis methods require harsh reaction conditions with high energy consumption6,7. Here we propose a versatile platform that takes advantage of heavy water dissociation in bipolar membranes (BPMs) to produce deuterated acids and bases under particularly mild conditions. Specifically, D2SO4 (2.75 mol l−1) and KOD (5.82 mol l−1), which are comparable with commercial products, were prepared using inexpensive D2O and K2SO4. We find that the deuteron generation rate is approximately 1.25 times greater than that of the protons, which is attributed to less co-ion leakage of D+ than H+ through the anion-exchange membrane (AEM), lower salt leakage within BPMs in D2O than in H2O and lower dehydration barrier of deuterons than proton clusters in the membrane phase. Compared with other contributing factors, salt leakage plays a relatively minor role in the observed H+/D+ concentration difference. This flexible and robust platform facilitates the synthesis of various deuterium-labelled compounds.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09274-7

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