Abstract The preparation of 4-fluoro-2-nitrobenzonitrile (V), an intermediate in the synthesis of the title compound I, from 4-fluoro-2-nitroaniline via 5-fluoro-2-iodonitrobenzene (VII) was elaborated. Syntheses of 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3-hexadeutero-2-propyl (XX) and 1, 3, 4-trideutero (XXVIII) analogues of compound I from hexadeuteroacetone, and pentadeuterobromobenzene, respectively, were carried out. Compound I was esterified ...