Iron-catalysed alkene and heteroarene H/D exchange by reversible protonation of iron-hydride intermediates

Abstract

O as the deuterium source, and uses only bench-stable reagents, including the iron(ii) pre-catalyst. Further, a new mechanism of iron-hydride formation is reported in which β-hydride elimination from an alcohol generates the iron hydride. The ability to produce, isolate and characterise the organometallic products arising from C-H activation presents a basis for future discovery and development.