when alcohol reacts with heavy water , why do ALWAYS get R-O-D ??? ,,
R-O-H + D2O ----- R-O-D + DOH

Question

when alcohol reacts with  heavy water , why do ALWAYS get R-O-D  ??? ,,
R-O-H  + D2O ----->   R-O-D + DOH

anonymous · Answer

Please explain with  appropriate Mechanism...

abb0t · Answer

hmm...well, this reaction proceeds when subject to an acid catalyst (can proceed as base catalyzed, too) mainly due to the oxygen atom of an alcohol, which is $nucleophilic$ and is thus prone to attack by electrophiles.

abb0t · Answer

why did you capitzlize "always" ???

anonymous · Answer

ok ,, so O-D bond is stronger than O-H bond?

abb0t · Answer

I didn't say that. deuterium and hydrogen are allotropes. hydrogen has an electron and a proton, no neutrons; deuterium has an electron, a proton, and a neutron.