H/D‐exchange reactions with hydride‐activated catalysts

Abstract

Abstract A safe, user friendly and efficient method to provide high deuterium incorporation into a variety of organic substrates was developed. Systematic screening of catalysts and activators revealed that the activation of the Pd‐ or Rh‐catalyst by NaBD 4 is essential for the H/D exchange. The feasibility has been demonstrated by the successful application of this method to bi‐ and tricyclic aromatic compounds as well as chiral natural products like dextrorphan or drugs like formoterol. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.