A convenient and cost-effective method for selective deuteration of rutin using biologically compatible bases and D2O both as a deuterium source and a solvent is herein reported. The protocol is benign and inexpensive affording good results in very mild conditions allowing to reduce the required amount of deuterium oxide. The position of the C-H/C-D exchange and the level of deuteration can be conveniently followed by 1H-NMR.
Keywords: Rutin, arginine, deuterium oxide, NMR, TRIS, solvent.