Isotopically labeled compounds are highly desirable as they can serve as both mechanistic probes in chemistry and diagnostic tools in medicinal research. Herein, we report an unprecedented visible-light-mediated metal-free deuteration of silanes using D2O as an inexpensive, readily available, and easy to handle deuterium source. A broad range of aryl- and alkyl-substituted silanes were deuterated with high deuterium incorporations and yields. Furthermore, a 100 gram-scale synthesis was demonstrated using continuous-flow micro-tubing reactors, where enhanced reaction efficiency was obtained. The photoredox-catalyzed polarity matched hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) between silanes and the thiol HAT catalyst was responsible for the efficient deuteration.
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