This invention belongs to the field of deuterated labeled compound synthesis technology, and discloses a method for deuterating indole compounds and its application. The deuteration method of this invention includes the following steps: mixing an
indole compound, a
transition metal catalyst, a complex ligand, an additive, and a deuteration
solvent, reacting to obtain a deuterated product; the complex ligand includes a first ligand and a second ligand; the first ligand includes a
lactam compound; the second ligand includes a pyridone compound; and the deuteration
solvent includes deuterated
acetic acid. The deuteration method of this invention achieves
highly selective hydrogen-
deuterium exchange at multiple sites on the indole ring of indole compounds (especially the difficult-to-modify C4-C7 sites) through the synergistic effect of the catalyst, the dual ligand, and the deuteration
solvent system. Furthermore, it can be applied to the deuteration synthesis of drugs such as the anti-inflammatory
drug indomethacin, the
cancer adjuvant therapy
drug tropisetron, and the neuromodulator
melatonin, providing key
technical support for the development of deuterated drugs.