Making Deuterium-Labeled Chemicals Precisely with Metal Catalysts
This patent describes new ways to precisely add a special type of hydrogen called deuterium to specific parts of chemical molecules using metal helpers, making them useful for medicines or research.
Original patent title: “Selective transition metal catalyzed deuterium incorporation into alkyne and alkene functionalities”
This patent describes new ways to precisely add a special type of hydrogen called deuterium to specific parts of chemical molecules using metal helpers, making them useful for medicines or research. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
Based on the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →, this patent describes new chemical methods for precisely adding deuterium, a heavier version of hydrogen, to specific parts of molecules. These 'transition metal catalyzed methods' are designed to incorporate deuterium into 'alkyne and alkene functionalities' – which are specific types of chemical bonds. The methods are 'regioselective', meaning the deuterium goes to a particular spot, and 'enantioselective', meaning it produces mostly one specific 3D mirror-image form of the molecule. This precision allows for creating 'isomerically and/or enantiomerically pure or enriched deuterated compounds'. The abstract also notes these methods can be adapted to make fluorinated compounds. For example, a drug developer could use this method to swap a hydrogen for a deuterium at a specific carbon atom in a drug candidate, ensuring the new molecule has a precise structure for improved stability.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods for adding deuterium that do not use transition metal catalysts.
- Does not cover deuterium incorporation into chemical structures other than alkynes and alkenes.
- Does not cover methods that produce a random mix of deuterium locations or mirror-image forms.
- Does not cover the creation of fluorinated compounds if the method is not a modification of the described deuterium incorporation techniques.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining transition metal catalysis with highly selective control to precisely place deuterium atoms into specific alkyne and alkene bonds, ensuring both the correct location and the desired 3D mirror-image form of the molecule.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Synthesis of deuterated drug candidates for pharmaceutical research
Creation of stable isotope tracers for metabolic studies
Preparation of internal standards for analytical chemistry (e.g., NMR spectroscopy)
Production of specialty chemicals with enhanced properties
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Precisely adding deuterium to molecules is critical in drug development, as it can improve drug stability, alter how the body processes them, and extend their effectiveness. This patent's focus on regioselective and enantioselective methods means it offers fine control over the chemical structure, which is essential because different molecular arrangements can have vastly different biological effects. Such precise control is valuable for creating new medicines and for advanced chemical research.
Filed
November 1, 2021
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Pharmaceutical companies like Teva Pharmaceuticals and Concert Pharmaceuticals, along with specialty chemical suppliers such as Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, are actively involved in the development and synthesis of deuterated compounds. Academic research institutions also continuously advance the underlying chemical methodologies for precise deuterium incorporation.
Market impact
This type of precise synthetic method can enable the development of new deuterated drugs with improved properties, potentially extending patent life for existing drugs or creating entirely new therapeutic options. It also supports advanced chemical research by providing tools for mechanistic studies and diagnostic agents, fostering innovation in both the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
Based on the abstract, this patent describes new chemical methods for precisely adding deuterium, a heavier version of hydrogen, to specific parts of molecules. These 'transition metal catalyzed methods' are designed to incorporate deuterium into 'alkyne and alkene functionalities' – which are specific types of chemical bonds. The methods are 'regioselective', meaning the deuterium goes to a particular spot, and 'enantioselective', meaning it produces mostly one specific 3D mirror-image form of the molecule. This precision allows for creating 'isomerically and/or enantiomerically pure or enriched deuterated compounds'. The abstract also notes these methods can be adapted to make fluorinated compounds. For example, a drug developer could use this method to swap a hydrogen for a deuterium at a specific carbon atom in a drug candidate, ensuring the new molecule has a precise structure for improved stability.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining transition metal catalysis with highly selective control to precisely place deuterium atoms into specific alkyne and alkene bonds, ensuring both the correct location and the desired 3D mirror-image form of the molecule.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods for adding deuterium that do not use transition metal catalysts.
- Does not cover deuterium incorporation into chemical structures other than alkynes and alkenes.
- Does not cover methods that produce a random mix of deuterium locations or mirror-image forms.
- Does not cover the creation of fluorinated compounds if the method is not a modification of the described deuterium incorporation techniques.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$11K – $35K
Midpoint $22K · 15.1 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Making Deuterium-Labeled Chemicals Precisely with Metal Catalysts (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,369). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735369/selective-transition-metal-catalyzed-deuterium-incorporation-into-alkyne-and
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12735369"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 9884123 · 2018 · INVICTUS ONCOLOGY PVT
Targeted Platinum Drugs for Cancer Treatment
US 7528115 · 2009 · Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc
Improving Drug Delivery with Chemical Masks for Thiazolo-Pyrimidine Compounds
US 12365678 · 2025 · AstraZeneca AB
How to Manufacture a Complex Cancer-Fighting Drug Molecule
US 12740310 · 2026
New Chemical Compounds for Brighter, More Efficient OLED Screens
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Making Deuterium-Labeled Chemicals Precisely with Metal Catalysts cover?
This patent describes new ways to precisely add a special type of hydrogen called deuterium to specific parts of chemical molecules using metal helpers, making them useful for medicines or research.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Precisely adding deuterium to molecules is critical in drug development, as it can improve drug stability, alter how the body processes them, and extend their effectiveness. This patent's focus on regioselective and enantioselective methods means it offers fine control over the chemical structure, which is essential because different molecular arrangements can have vastly different biological effects. Such precise control is valuable for creating new medicines and for advanced chemical research.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods for adding deuterium that do not use transition metal catalysts.
Patent monitoring