The Base-Catalyzed H/D-Exchange of Anisole Moiety of Ruthenium Complex in Cooperation with Demethylation by Hydroxide Anion in Methanol d4.

[Ru(η5-C5H5)(η6-arene A)]BF4 (arene A = nitrobenzene, m- or p-nitrotoluene, anisole, phenetole, m- or p-methylanisole) were quantitatively converted to pure [Ru(η5-C5H5)(η6-arene B)]BF4 (arene B = phenoxido-2d m- or p-monodeuterated methylphenoxido) in the presence of excess KOH in CD3OD, whereas [Ru(η5-C5H5)(η6-anisole)] BF4 was quantitatively obtained by treatment [Ru(η5-C5H5)(η6-nitrobenzene)] BF4 with 1 equivalent KOH or CH3OK.