Glyoxal, possessing two conjoined formyl groups, is a synthetically useful reagent that is commercially available as a 39% aqueous solution.[1] If the addition of D2O to commercial aqueous glyoxal is monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy, several species, including its hydrated form and dimer and trimer species, are observed.[2] Despite these complications, it is clearly an advantage to employ this reagent directly as an aqueous solution in synthetic ...
