Reduction of alkynes into 1,2-dideuterioalkenes with hexamethyldisilane and deuterium oxide in the presence of a palladium catalyst

A combination of hexamethyldisilane and deuterium oxide was found to work as a deuterium transfer reagent for alkynes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium complex to give (E)-1,2-dideuterioalkenes selectively through the corresponding (Z)-isomer.